Kari Thomas Interviews a Dragon!

Since the Dec. 7, 2011 release of my latest book, SURRENDER HER TOUCH, I have had so many Readers write me and ask that I do MORE Dragon Shapeshifter stories.  Writing Slade Stryker’s story was my first foray into the fascinating world of Dragons, and now I have this sneaky suspicion it won’t be the last time.

As I was sitting at my desk contemplating this, in walked my sexy Alpha Hero. Or should I say, he “stalked” into my office. Dragon shifters seem to stalk everywhere, as though anyone or anything in their path is prey. It must be their inherent “primal” souls remembering when they once ruled the world at the top of the food chain. Sexy, but intimidating to say the least!

I tried to hide my surprise as Slade nonchalantly settled into the chair opposite me. “Hey, Slade,” I said oh-so-casually. “Any reason for this visit? I thought I’d settled everything with you when I wrote the words ‘The End’.”

“Good morning, Kari,” he rumbled sexily. (He always talks that way!) “I flew over this morning to talk to you about something that has developed since you wrote ‘Surrender Her Touch’.” (When he says “flew”, he means in dragon form! How kewl is that!)

“Problem?” I shook my head. I couldn’t think of any problems developing once the book is released. Everything pretty much goes smoothly. It’s all that “before” stuff that can drive a writer crazy (the edits, etc).

“Yeah,” he rumbled again.  “You exposed us with that book. I’ve had to keep my Firestorm Team patrolling around-the-clock ever since the book came out. We’ve had nonstop ‘tourists’ climbing all over the woods looking for easy access into the Compound. None of our people can go into town without being accosted by curious humans.” He growled low, a sound indicating his inner dragon was slowly awakening. “Why didn’t you think about all this before you wrote about us?”

Gulp. Actually, I had thought about it. But I was so sure that people would think it only Fiction and not go looking for the real dragons! “Sorry?” I gave him my best “I’m-really-innocent-despite-the-proof” smile. It didn’t work. He glared at me. And when Slade Stryker gives his dragon glare, you know you’re in trouble. “What can I do to help?” Was it even possible? Readers everywhere were now out hunting the Shamara Dragon Clan, and it was all my fault.

“You’re going to write a Retraction,” he announced in a soft demand. “Tell those Readers it’s all Fiction.”

UhOh. “I can’t do that,” I mumbled. “The book is out and more Readers are reading every day.”

Slade stared hard at me for a long minute. Was that steam I saw coming from his nostrils? Never push a shapeshifter to reveal his inner dragon….

“Fine,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “I’m going to tell you more dragon stories. Some so horrifying, so incredibly unbelievable, you’ll have nightmares for weeks. Then, you’re going to write those stories. THAT should scare off all those Readers.”

Meekly I explained, “But Romance can’t be horrifying, Slade.”

He grinned, the sight so sexy I had to remind myself that he already had a Mate. “Oh, there will be romance. Passionate, hot, romance to curl your toes. You’re going to leave those Readers ….gasping.”

SURRENDER HER TOUCH
https://www.eternalpress.biz/book.php?isbn=9781615725588
Paranormal, Shapeshifters, Contemporary Romance

Kari Thomas
https://www.authorkari.com

Let me get a couple of announcements out of the way, then I’ll get to business! This is one of my New Year’s rezzies, so put up with it already!

Last Day to Get It Free!

It looks like folks are finding the story. As of this morning, there had been 2500 free downloads in the States, and more in England and Germany. The point was to:

1) reward my loyal readers, and
2) perhaps, pick up some new readers—if they liked what they read.

Tonight at midnight, the offer goes away and the price will go back up to $2.99. I’d like for it to finish strong so that when it goes back to the “paid” list on Amazon, it doesn’t fall away into oblivion. So, be sure to get your copy now and send the link to a friend! And if you’ve read it, why now take a minute to leave a review? Just sayin’…

Three Signed Books Contest

Remember that? If not, click on my contest link: Contest

All you have to do to enter is post a comment sometime between now and January 31st! And the more days you drop by and say hello, the more entries you have! Easy, right?

My Report Card

I keep a To Do List, which I update every Sunday. I shoot for the moon, but am truly satisfied if I only accomplish lift off. The point is to keep all my goals fresh and in front of me while I whittle away.

This week, I managed to:
1) Field questions regarding the Wild at Heart call for submissions; (If you’re a writer, you’ll want to click on the link and find out more!)
2) Respond to lessons from the ongoing Plotting Bootcamp;
3) I completed chapter 1 of AT;
4) I wrote the opening of a new short story;
5) My formatter person rushed the job for me so that I had Strokes back in time to upload it on Monday, then I spent time promoing the book everywhere I could think of;
6) I put together the newsletter for the After Midnight Fantasies group;
7) And it wasn’t part of my goals, but I put together a one-page, single-space proposal for a two-novella demon book;
8 ) I wrote a proposal for a Cleis antho and shipped it to my editor;
9) Tuesday, my daughter was ill, so I dropped everything and spent the day and evening at her house taking care of the wee ones;
10) Thursday, I attended an art guild meeting with my mom and aunt;
11) and Saturday, I spoke at the Diamond State Romance Authors‘ monthly meeting about time managements and planning!

Does that sound like enough? It was definitely not enough progress on the main goal, the demon story. I hope to remedy that this week!

I need nags. “You go write, Delilah” “Why are you on Facebook when you should be writing me more stories!” I won’t get mad, and just maybe, I’ll follow orders! Y’all have a good week!

Get your free copy of Strokes while you can. See yesterday’s blog for details!

Enjoy today’s little snippet which highlights the unusually close friendship Bo shares with the Kinzie brothers…

“…what you get is explosive, emotional and endearing, something Delilah Devlin does better than anyone…”
4 Cherries, Whipped Cream

There’s a wild child trapped inside her, and they’re hell-bent on unleashing it…

As the pretty daughter of the town whore, Shanna Davies has always tried hard to toe the line. But she just can’t help it. Her boyfriend, Bo Crenshaw, has lured her untamed spirit out to play once too often. It’s time to get the hell out of Dodge and make a new start where no one knows her past. After she fulfills one last, wicked fantasy.

Shanna is Bo’s first everything. First kiss, first sexual playmate, first love. Yet he’s never managed to convince her that he accepts her—good girl and bad—just as she is. So, she wants a memorable send off? No problem. He’ll give her one that’ll make her think twice about leaving.

On the appointed night, Shanna expects nerves. Yet once she crosses the threshold, the prospect of surrendering to a night of unrestrained passion with Bo and the three Kinzie brothers makes her mouth water—and her courage dry up.

But she asked for it, and now she’s not about to blink first in this game of sexual chicken…

Warning: Four lusty cowboys prove a little domination goes a long way in breaking a stubborn woman to saddle. Lots of spanking, binding, flogging, and double-dipping can keep a girl on her toes, her back, her belly, her knees…

Bo rehearsed the request a dozen times, pacing in front of the Kinzie porch. He’d come early enough to catch them before they headed into town to hit the saloon, getting a rash of shit from his foreman because the old man had guessed his distraction had something to do with a girl.

Fuck. How did you ask friends to help you blow your girl’s mind without looking like a fool?

“Do you think he knows we’re out here?” came an overloud whisper.

Bo turned, shooting a glance over his shoulder. The three Kinzie brothers were lined up on the other side of the rail, eyeing him. Josh grinned. Cade’s expression was wary, his eyes narrowed. And Ezra? Well, Bo never could get a bead on what Ezra thought because the man’s expression never strayed from neutral.

He chose to address Cade’s wary glance first. “I’m not here to borrow your tractor again.”

“Weren’t gettin’ it even if you did. Got it stuck to the axle last time.”

Josh leaned his butt against the rail. “Only thing ever gets you so worked up is Shanna Davies.”

Bo snorted and narrowed his eyes. Josh wasn’t a mind reader. He’d been drinking with Bo Saturday night when Shanna had approached him.

Josh grinned. “Well, that got a reaction. Better come in and get a beer while we get cleaned up.”

Bo blew out a deep breath, glad for the reprieve, and climbed the porch steps.

Inside the house, Josh headed down the hall toward the bedrooms, Cade on his heels.

However, Ezra pulled the tab of the beer he already held and settled onto a settee in the family room, not caring that his clothes were sweat-stained and covered in dust. “So what’s botherin’ you? You finally tell Shanna you’re in love with her?”
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For the next three days, starting just after midnight (Pacific time) and ending Sunday at midnight, Strokes will be available for download for free at Amazon.com!

Help me get the word out. Please tweet and Facebook about this special giveaway. Tell a friend! And if you’ve already purchased Strokes, send me a copy of your receipt and I’ll send you a free .pdf of Pleasing Sir or Her Soul to Keep.

Click on the cover and head to Amazon to get your copy now!

You can do something for me in return. While you’re downloading your free copy, be sure to “like” and “tag” Strokes. And if you aren’t shy about it, please come back to post a review after you’ve read it! I hope you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for all your support!

Today, you have two chances to enter the Three Signed Books Contest. Post a comment here, then pop on over to Wild & Wicked Cowboys! ~DD

I love Mexico, love lying on the beach drinking margaritas and relaxing the day away.  Who doesn’t? 

But would you go on a vacation there with your hubby’s work wife? My husband wants to go to Mexico and stay for a week at the same time his work wife is there.  I don’t love the fact that he has a work wife, but I trust the guy.  Do I want to spend my time and money to go on a vacation with her, Mr. work wife, and a few other people from his company?  No.  I’m not even a little bit interested.  But he really wants to go.

Am I being completely selfish if I say no thanks?

I would love to hear all of your opinions on the subject, and I’ll leave you with an excerpt from my latest book, Double Dare.

Sydney James straddled the hard bodied, sun bronzed working man on the bed beneath her. He was fresh out of the shower with only a white towel and her legs wrapped around him.

“Where are you going to be working tomorrow?” She leaned down and sucked at Logan’s earlobe then flicked the tip of it with her tongue.

He smelled like soap and man and the heat rushing to her crotch made Sydney almost forget her mission. “Somewhere close to my cabin I hope?”

His cock came to attention between her legs. Long and hard, its heat pressed against the skin of her inner thigh and her pussy clenched in response. This was one of the best things about dating a twenty-six year old. He was up anytime she even suggested sex. Logan Ford was a good match for exactly what she needed. Smoking sex, and lots of it.
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The winner of the Ellora’s Cave Grab Bag Contest is… Ha! You have to wait until the end!

Three Signed Books Contest

What can you win?
I’m trying to clear shelf space in my office, and I had extra copies of books lying around, so your prizes this time around are signed copies of ALL of these books, plus some fun promo items:

What do you have to do to win?
Post a comment. And keep commenting every day the contest runs, because each of those comments counts as another entry! This contest ends next Tuesday, January 31st!

Here’s the conversation starter for today….

If you won $2 million tomorrow, what are the first three things you think you would do or buy as soon as you had the check in your hand?
~ from The Question Guys

So, back to the winner of the Ellora’s Cave Grab Bag Contest… By random number generator, the winner is…Mary Preston! Mary, congrats, and be sure to send me an email to arrange delivery of your prize!

First, I want to thank Delilah Devlin for allowing me to be on her blog today. I am a big fan of Delilah’s and she might not know this, but she is one of the authors who influenced me to take my writing to the next level.

If you don’t know me, my name is Melissa Schroeder and I write romance in time periods from historical to futuristic and in heat levels in sensual to erotic.

My newest book coming out this month is The Cursed Clan: Callum. It is the first of a five book paranormal series. The first book is a bit of a discovery for the reader and the heroine, Dr. Phoebe Chilton, and with each book, the magic and mystery will grow. There are five cousins, Callum, Angus, Logan, Fletcher and Anice, who will each have their own book as they race to break the curse. It isn’t quite as erotic as my Harmless series, but it his highly sensual. I really fell in love with Callum and Phoebe. They are a wonderful couple and I hope the readers like them as much as I do!

Meet me around the web:

WEBSITE
TWITTER
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
THE CURSED CLAN SITE
HARMLESS ADDICTS

Here is a little tidbit from the book.

Preorder from Are.

As Laird, Callum Lennon feels he has always failed to protect his cousins. Callum’s impulsiveness caused the death of his father and the experience has scarred not only his body, but his soul. From that point on, he made sure to always go with the more logical choice in every matter. When his younger cousin Angus finds clues that might help break the curse, Callum begrudgingly hires Phoebe Chilton to investigate. Callum doesn’t like bringing outsiders into their family affairs. Their life would become fodder for the tabloids if anyone were to find out about the curse. It doesn’t help that the instant he meets Dr. Chilton he’s attracted. But, he doesn’t really have a choice because she might be their last hope.

An expert in archeology, Phoebe has always been dwarfed by her parents’ shadow. Their high standards had her in college by thirteen and earning a second PhD by twenty-two. But her career and her broken marriage have left her needing something more than just diplomas and degrees. She wants to prove that her interest in legends, especially Celtic legends, is as important as her parents’ work. When the Lennon family contacts her, she sees the opportunity to win a massive research grant. With a long-time rival breathing down her back, she jumps at the Lennons’ offer her, hoping it will ensure her the grant. But uncovering the Lennon family secrets, and her attraction to Callum, could prove more than she can handle.

Forces outside the family are determined to ensure that they fail. When an old enemy threatens both the well being of the clan and the fragile new love, Callum will have to choose between believing his mind or his heart.

 * * * * *

“I protect what is mine. I’ll not allow you to use Angus.”

She moved away from the counter, her body tense with anger. “I have never used another person, especially in that way. You’ve convinced yourself that I decided to somehow use my considerable wiles on your cousin to somehow gain who knows what.”

When she said it like that, he felt juvenile and petty.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Lennon. I’ll avoid your cousins from now on.”
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