Ask any master gardener and he or she will tell you that the secret to a healthy garden is compost. But what is compost made of? Dead things, rotten things, a putrid mass of what was once gaily colored in magenta petals or emerald blades with golden beards cut down, clipped back, mowed or shaved and cast into a pile of decomposition.
Pretty graphic violence isn't it? All that "pain" just in mowing the grass and dead-heading flowers to keep bushes and seasonal selects producing more beauty. There is pain, pathos and death in the romance of each and every rose.
Just like each rose needs a little darkness in its roots to feed, romance itself benefits from a scary moment or two. Unless you grew up with parent(s) like Sissy Spacek in "Carrie" or the Amish, you've indulged in that teen-aged rite of passage - going out on a date with your favorite guy or gal for a slasher film. Something you knew would give you nightmares, keep you jumping at shadows, and guarantee a vegetarian diet for at least a week, but still you went - and full of breathless anticipation. Why? Because it guaranteed that no matter how shy the other person you'd end up huddled together: protector and protected.
Maybe that's why I am drawn to horror, have always been. It is a question I've asked myself since I was a kid, snuggled between my snoring parents watching Chilly Bill Cardille as he hosted Chiller Theater with all the campy horror of the days before Sam Raimi and the new generation of buckets o' gore. Not to say I don't love those as well, I do, even grossed out guys by eating pizza and slurping down cherry Coke sitting enrapt in front of modern flicks like "Hostel."
Most of us will be spared the real devastation of having to endure walking down an unlit alley, at night, in the worst part of town with a dead cell phone battery, and nothing more than an adrenaline rush to help get you away from a slavering baddie with ill intent. But we all feel drawn to experience it at least once, vicariously through television or movies. Is it to look death in the eyes and laugh with hollow, false bravado - or more simply to help drive together a pair that human over-thinking would keep apart?
That truly is the question. However, given the clamour for more dark erotic novels and paranormal romances - it is clear, a little death provides excellent fodder for romance, as much as it does for the rose - the symbol for the genre.
While you ponder your own answer to that question, have a peek at my newest video trailer for my upcoming Red Rose release, "Flesh." Post a question or comment and be entered to win a cool t-shirt I designed exclusively for this short story.
11 May 2009
Pushing up roses.
07 May 2009
New Releases May 07
Red Rose™ Publishing ~ May 07, 2009 ~ New Releases (eBook) |
| PURPLE PROSE Sam Cheever  Erotic Romance: Fantasy, Interracial/Multicultural When she hits the writer's block of all writer's blocks, Lindsey Prince thinks her muse has abandoned her. But she opens her door one day to find a gorgeous new one standing there, "anxious" to help her finish her current project. There's only one problem…her new muse, Zahn, has been turned purple by Calliope, Chief of the Muses, for indulging in Purple Prose. Unfortunately, his fate rests on Lindsey submitting a purple prose free manuscript to her editor. No pressure there. To make matters worse, Zahn apparently has a powerful and cranky ex-girlfriend who isn't all that thrilled by the growing attraction between Lindsey and Zahn. She'll do anything to stop Lindsey from submitting that manuscript. Anything. Based on the extremely heated "research" she and Zahn have been indulging in, Lindsey knows her sexy IR story will sizzle. She only needs to live through the process of writing it. No easy task, that. |
COMPUTER LOVE Dreams Series: Book 2 Pat Cromwell Mainstream Romance: Contemporary, Interracial/Multicultural The 'not knowing why' a man disappears is hard. Nicole 'The Militant' Barnes understands that firsthand. When Ethan Dennaud III walked away without a even a wave goodbye, Nicole's life spiraled out of control to the point she didn't recognize the face staring back at her from the mirror. Now, through a series of seemingly unrelated events, he's back. Ethan has always been the man of her dreams. With his re-entry into her life and tale of why he left, will she let him make her dreams come true? |
| TO TAME A GOD Skyler Grey  Erotic Romance: Fantasy Teala Vine's has been invited to the infamous Masquerade Ball hosted by the Greek gods on Mt. Olympus. After choosing her favorite god to bring her fantasy to life, will Teala find herself wanting to remain behind or will she realize that reality can be a much better place? |
A KISS FOR LUCK Melody Knight & N. D. Hansen-Hill Erotic Romance: Paranormal Sybil's fate has been cast in glass for hundreds of years. For centuries, her world has been defined within the contours of an antique mirror. Even so, her dreams haven't changed. She longs for a chance to break free, to live her girlish fantasy of sweet future and warm caresses. Jamie Perriford is a self-made man, acquiescing to family tradition. He visits Perriford Castle with a rolling of eyes and a satirical twist of his lips. Never was a man so put upon by family, by irrelevant traditions, by pursuit from determined heiresses. Jamie has need of neither a wife, nor interference from the past. When Jamie encounters Sybil, he is as warmed by her form and unique perspective, as he is by her rather dusty and naive charms. When he takes her in his arms, he realizes that although Destiny may have brought them here, it was A Kiss for Luck that has wooed and won her. If he can only hold fast, he may be lucky enough never to let her go. |
FELLORIAN RESURRECTION The Fellorians Series: Book 2 Megan Rose Erotic Romance: Paranormal (Vampire) The Fellorians: a new breed of vampire, a new breed of passion The newly formed Trinity of Fellorian vampires have their first mission together in the mortal world: Return the Merlone Dagger to the realm of Felloria. However, newly rejuvenated vampire Arrbern has a more personal mission. He needs to reunite with the beautiful woman from his past life: in 1815. With a lost love and more dangerous enemies to face, will the Fellorians ever be returned to their homeland? |
THE PRINCESS AND THE WOLF Sanctuary Moon: First Howl Linda Sole Mainstream Romance: Paranormal (Shifter) A lost princess and a man who keeps changing into a wolf? Angelica is a princess and her uncle intends to force her into marriage against her will so that he can take over the kingdom that belonged to her father. Angelica decides to run away, but she is soon in trouble in the forest. Will she be caught and returned to her uncle or will she find the love of her life? |
06 May 2009
Red Rose Publishing Authors Give Back
And you can help us! The Authors of Red Rose Publishing are busy putting together a gift basket filled with goodies for the Brenda Novak Diabeties Auction. There is some fantastic stuff in there!
Autographed Copy of Having Faith by Nancy O'Berry
Autographed Copy of Eureka Point by Betty Ann Harris
Autographed Copy of Infidelity by Debbie Gould
Print Books:
Bare Bones by Aline de Chevigny (Not signed)
Goodies:
Naked Writing-The No Frills Way to Write Your Novel Course from Glenys O’Connell
T-Shirt Flesh by Melissa Glisan
T-Shirt for Rock Bound by Rochelle Webber
Sea Island Cotton Shower Gel from Delilah K. Stephans
Box of tea from Delilah K. Stephans
International Spy Museum Mug from Carol
Book Light
Tea
Gourmet Coffee
Chocolates
T-Shirt
Notepad
CD
Red Rose Bath Oils
Small White Cotton Book Bag
Bubble Bath and other goodies...
So far the basket has an estimated value of over $200.00!
Happy Birthday to ME!!!
Today is my birthday. I hate to limit my good birthday vibes to just one day so I take the entire month of May. I always buy myself a new book to celebrate my birthday. This used to be common- parents, grandparents and even siblings would buy a book, write a short note on the front page, date and sign it. I'm wondering what happened to this once commonplace practice...
03 May 2009
All who wander are not lost
When I accepted the invitation to blog today for Red Rose, I must admit I was anxious. I think it was a form of blog anxiety. This anxiety started me thinking about how we limit ourselves due to fear and how it helps to round characters in stories. In the creation of book characters, writers explore the boundaries of what is and is not possible. This drive is never more apparent than in books of romance and the fantastic.
The human spirit is never more divine or more evil than during times of crisis and nothing challenges what we believe to be the truth more than with the threatened lost of love.
In my upcoming novel for Red Rose publishing, THE DREAM KING and my
earlier work, FOREVER TONIGHT; I allowed my characters to explore how this fear of lost drives us to great heights and lows.
With the hero of The Dream King, Octavian’s fear of losing the love of his life drives him to strive to protect his lover against all odds while his arch nemesis, Jonathan struggles to overcome his own fears of lost though more destructive means until redemption beckons.
In the Sci Fi romance FOREVER TONIGHT, my heroine Ann seeks the protection of her lover at all costs and this changes her life forever.
It is my belief that books of romance and fantastic romance especially, challenge readers to explore places inside that aren’t always allowed expression.
This type of tension creates a rich multihued canvas that makes for great reading. Exploring our shadow selves in the realms of the twin mirror of fear vs. redemption allows us to break free from our own self imposed limitations to see who or what we could be.
02 May 2009
April 2009 Contest Winners
Egg Hunt April 2009 Winners:
Grand Prize winner of all of May's New Releases:
N. Simon
Second Place winner of a free download from Linda Mooney:
Charlene Coyle
CONGRATS!!
The new contest is up and ready to be played. How well do you know RRP's covers? Check out the clues and find out!
01 May 2009
Getting Opposites To Attract
It’s Not Just In Physics Anymore
I initially wrote Tanner's Devil, my upcoming book with Red Rose Publishing in 2007. Now that it's 2009, I've had to dig through my memory of the experience.
Good thing I wrote it live which helped when i went back to review readers comments about the book.
(To see more about my live books check out my website)
Anyhoo, after refreshing my memory and as I go through with my editor (Hey Faith) of making this story even more perfect for new readers, I sit here and wonder, how the heck had I created something way out in left field.
Not only did I create it? But it was darn good!
This isn't the first time I've come out of left field, but this was my most unusual.
So how did Tanner's Devil come to fruition?
Well first let me tell you about the story.
Tanner has lived hard on Detroit's streets all her life. Medical expertise passed down from generation to generation, she's trying hard to become a legitimate doctor because she wants to better herself. Unfortunately money is running short and she has less than 24 hours to come up with the last payment for her tuition or she can forget about graduation this year.
Her hope is to get a street gig so bad she gets the money, but that's not the case. She gets tempted by a lot of money to turn to her old profession - the oldest profession of all time and she knows if she doesn't accept escaping this life will have to wait.
Accepting this assignment means that she has to become Donetello's woman again. And this time he won't let her go.
Devlin, a duke and a virgin finds himself upset after discovering his fiancée having sex on their wedding day in the back room of a church with his brother. Wandering off to find his equilibrium, he ends up in Detroit, where he has resolved to end his celibacy by arranging to have a woman - any woman.
To his pleasure, he gets Tanner and one time isn't enough.
That's off the top of my head, but that's enough to get you knowing what I'm going to explain in the next part. Plus I just needed that amount to get your reading appetite wet.
Early 2007, I was challenged by a group of readers and writers to come up with a story of two unlikely people. The trick was that they came up wit hthe characters.
For the heroine, they chose Tanner. An ex-street walker, current street doctor trying to get out of the life she was living. She was pretty enough and not only with street smart but book smart, but determined to get to her goal in life - away from the one she was living, and not relying on any man. She didn't want love in her life, because the last time she had been in love (which had been with Donetello), it had deterred her too much from her goal.
For the hero, we have a thirty-year-old virgin, Devlin. A man who had honed his body and mind to please a woman, but will not give up his innocence because it is the only way he can keep the dukedom title his mother inherited through the Queen of England. He fully intended on losing his virginity very very soon until he found his soon to be wife having sex with his no good brother on their wedding day.
Now how were they to meet? I mean Tanner was from Detroit. A hood rat, street chick and had never stepped outside of Detroit for more than 24 hours.
And Devlin was a world traveler. Detroit was like Mars. Somewhere he'd maybe like to go, but really wasn't that interested in it.
My job as a writer was to bring these two opposites together.
On top of their status, there was also the fact that Devlin was white and Tanner was black.
Devlin expressed his emotions. Tanner kept her emotions to herself. Devlin dressed professional all the time, while Tanner loved to dressed comfortably. Devlin ate in palaces and mansions food so expensive, it would take Tanner a year to afford the kind of food he ate in just one week.
They were on the far ends of the character line and bringing them together was not only a challenge, but a feat of monumental proportions.
Yet as I laid my fingers on the keyboard very excited about the possibility of jeopardizing Tanner's life with the rage Donetello was going to feel when he found out she was not going into his services like he wanted, I felt a pleasurable peace. Even though I knew I’d have to deal with the animosity Tanner was going to have to face from the fiancée desperately trying to get Devlin back. I was shaking in excitement. (That was a really long sentence I know, but this is a blog and I'm not working on limits.)
Tanner's Devil was an impossible feat, but challenging myself as a writer every time I introduce a story to my readers is fun. I really do love it and as I rode the wave of writing a story off the top of my head I literally had braingasms. Yes, Braingasms!
And knowing this, makes me smile, because I know if I had fun writing the book, I know my readers will have even more fun reading it.
I look forward to all your comments and so forth about Tanner and Devlin's "adventure," and I look forward to giving Red Rose Publishing even more of the imaginative minds of Sylvia Hubbard.
Look for Tanner’s Devil coming soon to Red Rose Publishing!!
Loves and kisses
Your Author, Sylvia Hubbard
www.sylviahubbard.com
