Ash Penn's Blog

Below is the cover for my latest title from Totally Bound. Pre-release date is 4th April. I had fun writing this one. Kai's character is over-the-top camp, and one of my favourite characters to write.
  In other news, today I validated my word count for NaNoWriMo. 52,047 words. not bad considering I started a week late with no plans to even do NANo this year. Still got another 20 or so k to go, but I definitely write best when I have no idea what I'm doing until it's done. There are a lot of typos, so many that I think I've invented another language, but the story is solid. December is a month of edits.

I've just sold another novella to Totally Bound. It's called Chasing the Dragon, and (not to be too spoilerish) stars the characters featured in my free read Shades of Grey. Should be out around April of next year.

In the meantime I'm still working on Book 2 of my Dark Love series. Admittedly, I've been working on this one for quite a while, and it's certainly been through the wringer beta-reader wise. I hope I'm not jinxing myself too much by saying I might finally be on the right path with it. Series are hard to write. Especially when each book is a separate story with new characters who all have a part to play in the one overlying story arc which spans the 4 (planned) books. I'm probably too slow a writer to make a real go out of writing serials, but I am enjoying the paranormal genre.

It's one I will come back to, I think.

Scarlet Stilettos (sequel to Trick of the Night) is out today and available from Loose Id 

My first self published effort is up on All Romance right now. This story appeared in the Erotic Escapades Anthology last year. Since Scarlet Stilettos (sequel to Trick of the Night) is out tomorrow, I thought I'd make the short story available too. I should also add that the story has been re-edited since it first appeared in the anthology.

Here's the link for anyone who wants to download

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-trickofthenight-1296615-341.html

My latest release is a M/M Paranormal, romance with BDSM elements, Dance to the Wolf by H.C. Brown.

Dance to the Wolf came to me in a recurring dream. My dreams moved through snowfields, forests, and a dark medieval castle with a flag waving from the ramparts depicting a wolf with blood red fangs. In my dream, a young man was fleeing a pack of werewolves.

This dream continued for some days. Then it turned to a white tiger bounding through the snow.

The next day I began to write the story about a slave, Eton, sold on his majority to the sex slave market. His life inside the notorious Den was at least tolerable until his master sells him to the Alpha of a werewolf pack.

I needed a hero and introduced Raz, a white tiger shifter. The story is about Eton’s escape from the werewolf with the help of his lover, Raz. Time is running out, on the full moon, Eton will become the werewolf’s lover. I enjoyed writing this story and there is more to tell about the lives of these remarkable tiger shifters. So, I created the Tull Pride Series. This is book one, a standalone story. I hope you enjoy reading it.

H.C. Brown

Buy link:

Total-E- Bound

 http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=2292

All Romance eBooks

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-dancetothewolf-1280216-340.html

Below is my cover for Trick of the Night, courtesy of the talented H.C. Brown.

I'm planning to release the prequel to Scarlet Stilettos about a week before the main book over at  All Romance ebooks. It'll be a freebie, and a slightly doctored version from the story that appeared in the Erotic Escapades Anthology. I've removed references to Laine being gender-fluid because, aside from physically, she doesn't really relate to her male side at all.

A few weeks ago I found the original story I wrote about Laine way back in 2005. It was for a creative writing assignment where I had to write a piece of flash fiction. I called it Dream Girl, I think, although it's labelled on my hard drive as the rather alluring 'Activity 2.9'. 

                                                                                              *~*~*~*

Laine was lazing on the couch, flicking through endless drivel on Saturday afternoon TV when Lynne barged through the front door, brimming with clothing store carrier bags. She sported a huge grin as if she'd just won this week's lottery jackpot.

"Have you spent your entire wage packet on clothes?"  Laine ogled the contents of the bags as Lynne emptied a pile of flimsy dresses onto the lounge carpet. Such extravagance wouldn't please their parents, their father especially. He expected twenty-five quid a week from his eldest daughter.

"Not all of it. “ Lynne held aloft a cute white mini-dress with stylish lacy sleeves and an embroidered red rose trailing down the front. 

Laine’s eyes widened. The dress certainly was gorgeous, but, and how to be honest yet subtle at the same time. “Isn’t that a little small for you?"

"Cheeky bitch."  Lynne stuck out her tongue "Actually it’s for you.  I’ve bought lippy and eyeshadow too.  We'll have another makeover.  A proper one this time.”

Laine cast a nervous glance towards the front door, eager to slip into that foxy dress and be transformed into a teenage beauty queen, but at this time of day surely it was too dangerous a desire to indulge. “But won’t Dad be home soon?" 

Lynne rolled her eyes. "He'll be ages yet.  Come on, I’ll turn you into Kylie." 

She tossed the dress into the air. The delicate material seemed to float there for a moment before fluttering to rest in Laine’s eagerly outstretched hands. 

It truly was a beautiful thing.  And Lynne was probably right.  Dad would be ages yet. Popping into the pub after work with his friends was not unheard of for a Saturday afternoon.

                                                            *

Safely shut away inside Lynne’s bedroom, and aided by the sounds of ‘Ultimate Kyle’, the long awaited transformation began.

First Lynne set Laine’s shoulder-length dark hair into tumbling feminine curls. She then gathered them up into a wreath of pins and curls to accentuate Laine’s long slender neck. Laine’s not so complimentary jaw line she shaded in such a way as to allow the inner beauty to ease through to the reflection in the glass.

Laine watched this barely recognisable girl the mirror as her thick ebony lashes dipped, for a moment distorting the image through a teary veil.

“Now we look like twins.” Lynne giggled, standing behind Laine in the full-length mirror. “See how your eyes sparkle when you smile?”

“That’s because I think I might cry.”  Laine blinked.  In the reflection a tear squeezed from the corner of the dream girl’s eyes and rolled down the smooth contour of her cheek.

Laine used to think it was a paradox. How could anyone be so happy they’d cry?  But it was true.  There was the proof that Lynne whipped away on a tissue, muttering, “Wouldn’t want to smudge anything.”

Lynne was right about the dress.  The fit was a little loose in the waist and hips, but nothing anyone might notice. Laine’s blood fizzled like champagne. This vision hadn’t been created only to be locked away.  Laine wanted to go out and show everyone how a bit of makeup and a new dress could revolutionise the real and beautiful me.

 “Wish we could go out somewhere.“ Laine sighed. “Do I look old enough for a club?”

“No need to run when you can’t yet walk,” Lynne replied, in a sarcastic reference to the heels on which Laine tottered seven or so steps.

Laine was just about to venture another turn about the room when there followed the dreadfully sickening sound of an opening door, which could only mean one thing.

"Turn that bloody row down," bellowed a familiar male voice from behind them. "Who's your frie...?”  As Laine made an awkward turn, the fantasy shrivelled in the heat of Dad’s fury. “Lynne! What the bloody hell you done to my son?"

This is my cover for Scarlet Stilettos, courtesy of G.D. Leigh. As always with my covers, it's not quite how I pictured. But I love the originality and this one definitely catches the eye.

The book is at the line-editing stage right now. Most of the hard editing work is done. The word count stand at around 105k, so it's going to be a bit of a doorstep read.I'm also hoping to self-publish Trick of the Night as a freebie on All Romance. That's if I can work out how it's all done.I'm a bit of a technophobe in that sense.

I've sold my TG novel Scarlet Stilettos to Loose Id. This is the sequel to my short story Trick of the Night, which appeared in the Erotic Escapades anthology. Release date is set for 17th September. I'll show off the cover here just as soon as I get permission.

Character Spotlight with Vampire Bastian Evanko and $0.99 eBook Sale!

Hi everyone. I write erotic paranormal romance—M/F—under the name Lorraine Pearl, and I’m currently working on my Nocturnal Surrender Series. Before we get to this post, I’d like to thank Ash for having me here today and for letting one of my characters take over for a bit. Bastian can be a handful, and he has a foul mouth, but he promised to tone it down a little—or at least try to. First, a few facts about Bastian…

 

Quick Stats:

  Vampire

  963 years old

  6’2”

  Blond hair

  Blue eyes

  In a relationship

  Bartender at Nocturnal Surrender

Bastian’s Books:

  Nothing Lasts Forever

  Nocturnal Surrender

  Midnight Confessions

  Note: Bastian will also be in the rest of The Nocturnal Surrender Series books but won’t be a main character again until the final novel, which is untitled at this point. For more information, please visit: http://nocturnalsurrenderseries.weebly.com/

 
And now, I’ll let the vampire himself take over. Go for it, Baz…

Yeah, thanks so much for setting up another one of these fu— I mean, another of these wonderful guest posts.

*rolls his eyes*

So…I guess I should tell everyone about myself. I think I’ll do this a little different than normal. How about a check list so I can skip the miserable story that is my life?

  My fiancée, Elise, was murdered in front of me two hundred years ago by that bast— uh, by that pompous ex-Enforcer, Christof Rosenbaum.

  I was sentenced to—you guessed it—two hundred years in exile for trying to stop him.

  Part of my sentence was I could only feed on animal blood during that time.

  Now that I can feed on humans again, the bloodlust gets hard to control sometimes.

  My brother, Donovan, thinks I’m worthless and reckless, and so does everyone else.

  Except…this hot little stripper I met, Nicole French, AKA, Darling Nikki. But give her time. I’m sure she’ll grow to despise me one day.

  Oh, and I saved the best for last. I have a score to settle with that bast— with Rosenbaum. Either he’ll pay with his life or someone he loves will.

  Okay, one more thing. I effing hate not being able to effing cuss. If I hadn’t promised Lorraine I’d do this post, I’d be out of here right now.

Well, there you have it. That’s my effed-up life. Yes, there’s far more to my past, but I’m not going there. I have to focus on getting to know Nicole better and plotting my retribution on Rosenbaum.

I know my worthless ass—sorry, I can’t hold back anymore—doesn’t deserve someone as wonderful as Nicole, but I’m tired of being looked at like a monster, even by other vampires.

There has to be something worth loving in me.

*scrubs a hand over his face*

Who the hell am I kidding? Like I said before; I’m sure she’ll decide I’m worthless, too.

Screw it, I’m leaving. Thanks for making me think about all the miserable things in my life, Lorraine. Hope it was worth it.

*slams the door on his way out*

Poor Bastian. Sometimes I feel so bad for what I put him through in his books, and what he’ll be going through in the rest of the series. Hopefully he can forgive me one day.

Since he cut his post a little short, how about an excerpt from one of his books?

Nocturnal Surrender: Chapter One Excerpt

 

This wasn’t the homecoming Bastian Evanko had hoped for after two hundred years in exile. Getting berated by his brother served as a reminder of how strained their relationship had always been. Apparently the time apart had done nothing to mend old wounds.

So much for a starting over.

Donovan paced behind his mahogany desk, blond hair falling perfectly down the back of his expensive suit. “You shouldn’t be here. You know better. This city is no good for you, not with your past.”

Bastian gripped the wooden armrests of the pretentious-looking chair where Donovan had commanded him to sit. “My sentence is over. I will come and go as I please now. Spending the last two centuries in isolation was almost more than I could take.” He loosened his hold when the wood cracked. If he turned the chair into kindling, he’d never hear the end of it.

A point Donovan confirmed when he stopped and glared. “You’d better not destroy my office, little brother. The last thing we need is a repeat of what happened—”

“Oh, please. How long are you going to keep bringing that up?” Bastian clenched his fists and stood, nearly knocking the fucking chair backward. “And stop calling me little brother. Two years makes no difference after nearly a millennia.”

In an instant, Donovan moved to face Bastian. His eyes turned silver and his fangs extended. “Do not think to challenge me, little brother. As long as I have to keep cleaning up your messes, I’ll call you whatever I damn well please.” He waved a dismissive hand and returned to his desk, eyes reverting to their usual pale blue as his fangs receded. The monster within was hidden behind his baby face once more. No one would ever suspect a murderous creature lurked beneath that innocent façade.

With a deep breath, Bastian sucked in the amped-up vampiric testosterone saturating the air. The tension between them was suffocating, and the next move rested on his shoulders. He could take the all-too-familiar road of trying to prove himself with a physical display and allow the powder keg to explode, or…

“You’re right. I have made many mistakes, but you also know I’ve done nothing wrong since you stood up for me with the Elders and convinced them to spare my life.” Hand extended, Bastian crossed the room and stopped a respectable distance away. “Please, Donovan, let’s put the past behind us and move forward. How can I make amends if you won’t give me the opportunity?”

There was silence except for the ticking of the large antique clock on the bookcase. Soundproof walls allowed in nothing from the nightclub beyond the office door, or from the bustling city outside.

Donovan glanced at the proffered hand then locked gazes with Bastian, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, Bastian wished vampires weren’t able to shield their thoughts from each other. His shoulders stiffened. A few more seconds of being ignored and he’d lose the tenuous grasp he had on his temper.

In the past, he would have blown by now—verbally and physically—without regard for the consequences. His poor impulse control had created a rift between him and Donovan long ago. He never did anything right in his brother’s eyes, resulting in far too many years of Donovan’s condescending attitude. But he wanted his brother to see he was different now, and the only way for that to happen was to fight the anger.

Pressure built under his gums. His fangs ached to descend. Swallowing hard, he licked his teeth.

Still normal, but not for long.

Praise for the Series

“The chemistry between Bastian and Nicole is off the charts HAWT! WOW!! The world building is interesting and the plot is very intriguing. I love the author’s writing style and the editing was spot on. If you are a fan of Erotic PNR, you are going to love this series. It’s kind of like Laura Wright meets Lora Leigh with a pinch of JR Ward thrown in the mix.” Danie – Amazon Kindle reviewer.

“I am digging this Novella series by Lorraine Pearl. I finished Nocturnal Surrender & immediately purchase the next book in the series, Midnight Confessions. Great back story, character & story development. Oh, and let’s not skip over the hot and I mean incredibly hot sex between Bastian & Nicole that makes you weak in the knees & tingly all over.” Sharon – Amazon Kindle reviewer.

About the Author

Lorraine Pearl writes erotic paranormal romance books with sexy vampires in them. She is currently working on the first full novel of The Nocturnal Surrender Series—which will be out in the fall of 2013. Although her main interest is in writing vampire stories, she has recently branched out into other paranormal creatures including angels and demons.

Lorraine loves to read paranormal romance novels, and anything with vampires in it. Vampire movies and TV shows are also favorites. She knows most people are tired of vamps already, but she’s enjoyed them since before they became this popular, and she’s sure to continue enjoying them for a long time to come. She only hopes others feel the same since she prefers to write vampire stories.

For more information, including how to sign up for Lorraine’s newsletter, follow her blog, and join her street team, please visit Lorraine’s website at: http://www.lorrainepearl.com/

For book purchase links, please visit: http://nocturnalsurrenderseries.weebly.com/books.html

Lorraine’s books are currently on sale!

 

For a limited time, my books will be on sale for $0.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance, and Smashwords. Use the main book link above for the various purchase links. Be sure to check the price before you purchase in case the sale has ended. Obviously, the best value will be the anthology, which contains all the previously released books in the series, plus a little something extra from Bastian.

Thanks again for having me here, Ash, and congratulations on your latest book. Welcome to the paranormal world.

In case you haven’t read Ash’s new book, End of the Line, I highly recommend it. I can tell I will be addicted to this series. It’s sexy, dark, emotional, and deliciously erotic—with a dangerous edge reminiscent of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles.

I’m adding the link to Ash’s book so you can check it out. http://amzn.to/1bhsBrO

Yes, I truly am useless at updating my blog. But here is an interview with me at Femail First where I talk a bit about my latest release End of the Line, and writing in general. I also have a blog post coming up on 22nd July, Monday, at Coffee Time Romance.