Hello A/all!
After nearly a year of writing and a little tweaking, STRESS RELIEF is ready for release. Mark your calendars for April 17th to get my newest ebook from Ellora's Cave. Want a sneak peek? You can see the cover here and let me say, you're going to LOVE the colors! A big change from the dark past :). You want more? Okay, here's the blurb:
Meg Turner needs to relax. Between her job, her mother and the loss of a good Dom, she’s all wound up and needs a good flogging to relieve her tensions.
Rand Arthur is a busy man with a company to run. He doesn’t need commitments, but when his friend asks him to take Meg on as a new sub, he agrees, knowing there’s nothing that relieves stress like flogging a willing back.

But by the end of their first session, both see something in the other neither expected. And neither wants to change the rules of their relationship and risk losing it all.

Don't forget to vote for me as Best Writer at the Bondage Awards . You can vote once a day till Saturday, midnight. Thank you!

Oh! Did you know SECRET SUBMISSION has been on the Bestselling Erotica list at Amazon for nearly two months? I'm thrilled! If you're one of the one's responsible, thank you! And if you want the sequel, SUBMISSION REVEALED , you can check it out here.

More? You want more of my newest? If you insist...Here's a brief excerpt from STRESS RELIEF to help you through your day...

Prologue
The whip fell across soft white shoulders that had never done hard lifting or heavy labor. These were shoulders used by friends to cry on, shoulders that pushed nothing stronger than a pen, shoulders that carried little more weight than a heavy wool coat in winter.
But now the whip cracked across their whiteness, leaving a trail of raised skin behind, forcing a cry of pain from the woman who hung from chains by her wrists. The woman who gave her shoulders to another to abuse—and excite.
Her head see-sawed back and forth as second crack raised another welt across her shoulder blades. The penis-gag in her mouth gave her the freedom to scream as loudly as she wanted and she gave into the urge, channeling the pain out of her body through the use of her voice. Her muffled cries came out as moans as a third stroke left its mark on her unblemished skin.
With her legs cuffed to a spreader bar that, in turn, fastened to the floor, keeping her balance was out of the question. So was keeping her sanity. When a fourth and fifth blow followed in quick succession, she threw her head back and howled, the pain forcing a catharsis of all her pent-up stresses. Tears that never came easily coursed down her cheeks as her cries turned to sobs and the bottom of existence came up to hit her in the face.
All the troubles her friends had laid on her shoulders, all the issues with money, her parents’ divorce, all the problems facing the world came pouring out of her soul. Barely aware that her legs were released, Meg’s heart poured out all the poison she’d held inside for far too long in salt tears that striped her cheeks in sympathy with the stripes borne by her shoulders. Each crack of the rawhide whip pulled the pressures from her, and when Jack released her wrists, she collapsed into the strength of his arms as he lowered her to the floor and held her tight.


Remember, this book releases April 17th! Only a week to go (and a day, but whose counting? Okay, so I AM!!!)

Play safe,
Diana

Wow! I never expected the wonderful response I got, but THANK YOU! I sent out over 50 copies of STITCHES IN TIME to those who emailed me. The offer is now closed as the week is done, but now I know people DO read the newsletter (and follow me on Twitter -- and read newsletter!).

A reader wrote that she enjoyed the opportunity to revist Maggie and Liam and I have a confession to make. My favorite character is in this book, and neither of them are it. I really, really enjoy Seamus O'Brien, the leprechaun in the tapestry. I had a lot of fun writing him -- in fact, he has no current published equal among my characters, although Mr. Underwood in STRESS RELIEF (my upcoming release) just might run him a very close second.

What about you-all? Any favorite characters of mine? Who would you like to meet in a dark alley or on a cold winter's night?

Play safe -- and thanks!

Did you know this week is READ AN EBOOK WEEK? What a wonderful way to go green and help save a tree...read an ebook!

The blogosphere has been filled with discussions of the Kindle 2 and new IPhone apps that allow you to download and read ebooks in comfort. Some say ebooks are popular because of the ease of use, others because reading a novel electronically keeps nosy neighbors from judging you by your book choice. Whatever your reason or your device, the reality is that ebooks are taking off as a medium of reading.

To celebrate the mainstream finally catching up with what a lot of us already knew, and to honor Mother Nature (the original International Woman) by letting her keep a few of her trees, I am offering a free download of one of my novellas to anyone who emails me this week. What novella you ask? Since it's March and we soon will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day, what better story to celebrate with than STITCHES IN TIME, a tale that includes a romantic hero and a sexy heroine (of course!), the city of Dublin at this most festive time (appropriate, don't you think?) and one very nefarious leprechaun who is determined to get our hero and heroine together if it's the last thing he does (and it very well might be!).

So celebrate READ AN EBOOK WEEK with me and send an email to diana@dianahunter.net. Put "Free ebook" in the subject line so your email doesn't get lost and I'll send along a copy of STITCHES IN TIME -- on me!

Play safe -- and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Diana

It's hard to self promote, I've decided. We're taught right from the beginning that bragging just isn't done. It's okay to be proud of your accomplishments, but one should never brag about them. And yet, isn't that what a lot of promotion is? It's saying, "Here! Look at me! Look at how wonderful I am! Buy me! Buy my books!"

And now The Bondage Awards are accepting nominations and I find myself putting the word out there and asking for people to go nominate me. And if, by some outside chance I actually end up in the running, I will be going back to my readers and asking them to vote again -- taking time out of their busy days to put in a vote for me as Best Bondage Writer.

LOL...Best Bondage Writer? See what I mean? Talk about chutzpah! And yet, that's exactly the award I'd love to win. And if I just keep quiet and don't tell people about it, then nothing happens. And when I DO tell people, I sound like an egotistical, promotion-hungry author who doesn't have anything better to do but troll for votes (sighing).

So maybe I should just face facts: if I want to get nominated, I need to be the publicity whore and beg for votes. Hmmm..."beg for votes"....perhaps the better metaphor is a submissive begging to come?

I will end this rambling post with one last thought:

GO TO THE BONDAGE AWARDS AND NOMINATE ME!

Play safe,
Diana

BLOG IS UP AT THE SIZZLIN' SCRIBES!

:) I wrote about The Guardian's list of 1000 books you should read...check it out!

Good news! My editor has accepted my newest manuscript, tentatively titled Stress Relief. She's done her first read-through and is now going through it paragraph-by-paragraph and making her notes; she'll send it to me when she's done. Then I go full-blast into rewrite/edit mode and with any luck, we'll have a finished piece by the end of Februrary. After that, it's in the publisher's hands and comes out in their first available release slot. So keep your fingers crossed and maybe it will be published by this summer :) .

This is a newsy post, I guess -- since I have many plates in the air right now. Remember those plate-jugglers on the Ed Sullivan show (yes, I know. I've just dated myself)? That's what I feel like right now. I have a Second Life Valentine's Tour of readings, I've already begun a new manuscript, I'm recording some short stories for audio release, and am reworking an older set of stories for retelling in a brand-new way. You know me -- always keeping busy! Read on for details.

While finishing Stress Relief, I bowed out of Second Life for a while. Needed to concentrate on getting that puppy finished. But I'm back now, giving occasional readings in two sims for January. Come February, I have a five-stop tour planned to read my Lovestories -- a collection of short pieces (some erotic, some sweet romance). As a part of this I'm writing a new piece to add to the body of work. At the moment I have five in the rotation; this will give me six.

Connected to that is the audio recording. Since these stories exist nowhere for publication and several people have asked for copies, I've decided to keep them "in the air" as Taylor Mali would say and offer them as audio stories. I recorded a few over the summer and am now finishing them up. My wonderful songwriter husband is creating music for the opening and closing tags and is working as my producer on the project. Won't be fancy -- my "recording studio" is my study and our "mixing board" is the computer. But it's amazing what a home system can produce nowadays! My goal is to have them finished and available by Valentine's day.

Yes, you did read that I already have another work in progress. This is a shorter piece (novella length) that will be offered under a different name to a different publisher. Ellora's Cave does not publish hardcore stories and this will be my second venture into some of the VERY dark undertones of BDSM. Since it isn't a "typical" Diana Hunter book, I write with a different psuedonym. Endings aren't necessarily Happily Ever After and the sex isn't always consensual in these books, so beware! That should be finished by the end of February and off for consideration to a strictly BDSM publisher.

And then there's the last project, which will take the longest to see light, I suspect -- simply because of its complicated nature. Two years ago I started a serial in SL called As the SL World Turns. The theory behind it was to present a series of stories with different leading characters in each thread. The threads would interweave and separate as the characters wandered around SL meeting new people, seeing new sims, having new adventures. At first, I bit off more than I could chew and planned for a new adventure every two weeks. But RL has a way of saying, "What are you thinking? You have other responsibilites, you know!" So I went down to one new adventure a month. And then one every two months...and you get the picture.

If I didn't have a full-time job on top of all the writing ideas/projects I have, I think it would have worked. But I just couldn't devote all the time to it that I wanted and so it has died a slow death. This week I pulled it out of SL, taking down all the episodes while I thought it through.

Another way of telling the story has come to me, you see. A more interactive way. I've always been intrigued by the hypercard idea, ever since I first worked with a Mac back in the late 1980's. Telling a non-linear story definitely intrigued me. Then I played Myst...and got hooked on the idea. But until now, I couldn't figure out the right medium. I'm not a visual artist (at all!) and I can't write code (there's a reason people refer to it as a foreign language!). I only have words and like it or not, words are read in linear form. So how to break out of that?

I think I've got it now. I'm starting with the threads of As the SL World Turns, renaming it As SL Turns (I think), and going interactive with it. There will be a central starting spot (in SL) but several "colors" one can choose from. Each color is a different character. Won't matter which one you pick or what order you go in. At the end of the notecard is a link -- a place to teleport to for the next episode. Or perhaps several links, depending on what you, the reader, want to do next. Think the "choose your own adventure" books. Only here you can actually wander through the places where the story takes place.

Okay, I'm rambling now :). Lots of plates in the air -- let's hope I can keep them all spinning!

Play safe,
Diana

I made the mistake of reading some blogs this past week I shouldn't have read and I'm afraid that put me off writing for a while. Sort of like getting the taste of sour milk in your mouth and then not being able to eat anything 'cause it all tastes bad. I won't link to the blogs I read as I don't want to perpetuate the flaming and overall bad manners on display.

But it did get me to thinking about professional behavior, blogging and trolls. Trolls by their very nature are "gotcha" kind of people. For whatever reasons, they get their jollies from poking and prodding and finding one's sensitivities, then blowing them wide open. While I don't understand their motives, their actions are clear, as are their results. Far too often they succeed in making someone show their vulnerable side so they can then rip it apart. Paparazzi and blog trolls are cut from the same cloth.

Professionals, of course, rise above the fray and don't get involved. Ha! Easy to type, not so easy to do. I pride myself on my professionalism in my day job and like to think I bring a lot of that to my writing career as well. Was I sore tempted to jump in and make a soothing comment or two this past week? Of course I was. But I didn't. My cooler, professional side prevailed and I closed the window I'd opened before I could post a reply.

There's no point, you see. The trolls will circle and taunt and wait for one to break from the herd, then pounce. So any sane and sensible words I might have offered would only have succeeded in giving them more opportunity to try and lure someone out. Maybe even me.

Do I sound snobbish with this post? I suppose so. Because while I firmly believe in everyone's right to their own opinion, I also believe that where their civility ends, my rights begin. No one should have to put up with rudeness, no matter how much I might disagree with their comments. So I will be polite to the trolls, not because I think I'll change their behavior, but because I will not sink to their level of vicious behavior.

Good morning. I'm afraid this isn't going to be one of those cheery, let's-make-this-the-best-year-ever New Year's posts. While I'd love to sound the trumpet of optimism (I really am a glass half-full kinda gal, honest), this article has had me steaming for the past few days.

It seems Britian is considering a bill that would regulate pornographic images and ban those deemed too "extreme." They go on to define "extreme" as: "grossly offensive, disgusting or otherwise of an obscene character" -- words so general as to mean nearly anything. I've seen some pretty obscene pictures of carrots in my time -- would those be banned along with pictures of naked humans? In order to make sure this won't be the case (your carrot pictures will remain safe to keep), the bill further stipulates that the regulation covers pictures of any acts that are life-threatening, or acts that appear likely to result in harm to a person's genitals or breasts.

Getting the picture? The BDSM community in Britian is outraged and with good reason. The article details much of the controversy and I won't insult your intelligence by repeating it all here. But there is another aspect of this bill the Huff Post article doesn't take into account: the written word.

Once censorship begins, it rarely stops at the first bill to pass legislation. The people who want to remove choice from our lives only look around for the next target after the first one is passed. The leap from banning images that detail BDSM activities to banning books that contain BDSM activities is not a large leap at all. And from there? Would those who want the ban go so far as to try and outlaw all BDSM activity as well? The steps are precariously small from photography to stories to activity.

As avid readers of my books already know, I'm fascinated by the D/s dynamic, especially as it relates to male Doms and female subs. Every one of my stories explores some aspect of BDSM and most include some sort of bondage. EVERY bondage activity can result in potential harm, EVERY D/s activity can lead to physical danger, EVERY sado-masochistic activity can result in trips to the emergency room. That's why I'm always touting the TPE (Total Power Exchange) mantra of "Play safe, sane and consensual" both in my books and in life. The BDSM community as a whole understands responsibility -- and if people want to swap pictures about what they do, I just do not understand why others find it necessary to care.

To be fair, the couple behind this push in Britain lost their daughter to a careless decision on the daughter's part. She chose to play with a man who was neither safe nor sane. I truly am sorry for their loss and my heart goes out to them. But please do not color an entire community by the actions of one individual. Censoring is never the answer.

Have a happy New Year -- and PLAY SAFE!
Diana

Silly me. I looked at my two weeks off from my day job for the holidays as two solid weeks of writing time. Figured I'd have tons of time between the visiting, the cleaning for guests, the cheer and the fun. By this point I expected to be half-way done with a first draft for a new piece.

Yeah. And the North Pole's not melting, too.

I spent the first week throwing spaghetti at the wall.

What? You don't know that metaphor? Let me 'splain. No, that takes too long. Let me sum up: My mother read somewhere that, in order to tell whether the spaghetti was cooked enough or not, you could take a piece and throw it at the wall. If it stuck, it's ready. If it doesn't stick, it needs to cook longer. Behind our stove there was a scrubbed spot on the wall from where my mother always tossed the piece of spaghetti. It was fun watching her fling it and taking guesses as to whether it would stick or bounce or slide.

When I start stories, I'm always reminded of my mother flinging those strings of spaghetti at that spot on the wall. I start writing fast and furiously, letting the story form on the page, getting to know the characters, discovering their troubles and, in general, just immersing myself for a few minutes in their world. If everything goes along smoothly, I keep writing, not coming up for air until I'm well over a thousand words in. That's a story that's ready to be told. It's a keeper and will get written right away.

Sometimes, however, the spaghetti doesn't stick. I'll write a few hundred words (if I'm lucky) or a few thousand (if I get suckered) before the story dries up and either the characters stop talking or the plot won't reveal itself or I just get bored with it. I have files and files of these not-done story starts and whenever it's time to start a new book, I rifle through them to see if any of them are done yet. I'll pull up each file, write a little more on it and either a) keep going 'cause it's ready to be written or b) throw it back into the pot to simmer a little longer. New York Moment and Kara's Captain both took more than one throw at the wall before they stuck, same with Submission Revealed. So I've learned never to throw out any un-cooked piece of spaghetti -- sometimes the story just needs a little more time before it's ready to reveal itself.

So I've spent the entire week throwing spaghetti. Not until Monday did a piece stick and now I'm 2000 words into it and still going. I'm aiming for novella length with this one -- a bit darker than I usually write, though. Keep your fingers crossed and your eye on the spaghetti water!

Sidenote: you'll see I added Steve Duprey's blog to my blogroll -- be sure you check out his work if you haven't done so already. He's got another post up with a tribute to his sister that's incredible.

Play safe!
Diana

Thought I'd share my favorite Christmas song with everyone. Managed to talk the composer into making a recording of it today -- Merry Christmas!

Diana

I need to point this blog to another today. Cait Miller blogged over at Sizzling Scribes' and her point is a good one: we far too often forget those who have to work on holidays. I know I've needed emergency care on a day when everyone else has off and I'm sure some of you have, too. Cait, besides being an amazing erotica author, works as a delivery nurse in the UK and her suggestions are good ones. I know I'll be gathering a plate of cookies for the local emergency personnel this Christmas, and I encourage you to do the same. What a great way to say "thanks" to those who keep us safe when we forget to take care of ourselves.

And to all for whom tonight is a special night -- Happy Hanukkah! :)

Play SAFE!

Diana

An interesting article here about how romantic comedies affect our perceptions of our real, everyday relationships. As I read through the article, I was reminded of the wife of a friend of mine who complained that her husband, "didn't sweep her off her feet" anymore after ten years of marriage. When I tried to explain to her that marriage didn't work that way, that the "being swept off one's feet" emotion existed only in the early stages of a relationship, she got mad at me and yelled into the phone, "He just needs to read a good romance and he'll understand!"

That conversation has stayed with me for years. The woman ended up leaving her husband for someone new -- someone who ignited that longing to be "swept" along and I spent a great deal of time wondering if the books I wrote were somehow to blame for her poor understanding of the ups and downs of a long-term relationship.

But then I remembered that most romance books end at the altar. Those heady moments of first love, the joyous discovery of each other's foibles, each one overlooking the other's small imperfections and seeing only the greater good -- that's the part of the relationship we find exciting. That's what we want to read about. Over and over and over.

Are we, however, doing a disservice to couples everywhere? The article and study are being done in Britain (although anyone can participate in the study. I think I'm in -- I answered all 14 screens of questions only to have my Internet hang up when I tried to enter my email addy. Not sure it went through or not), but no matter where you are, the romance genre will find you. And once it does, the question remains -- when you pine after Mr. Darcy or Phillip Townsend, are you ruined for all the real men and the real work of real relationships?

Play safe,
Diana

Oh, what the heck, I'll give this a go one more time.

Give what a go? Blogging. You see, I've pretty much decided people fall into one of four categories: Those Who Blog, Those Who Comment on Blogs, Those who Barely Notice Blogs, and Those Who Don't Know What a Blog is. There might be a few middlin' categories in there, but those four cover it for me and I know I'm firmly in the second category.

Reading blogs and joining in the discussion is, for me, a great way of expressing my opinions. In Real Life (RL) I tend to be the quiet one in the corner who listens, but who, by the time she's got her sentences straight in her head, the topic's moved on. And so I remain the quiet one in the corner, keeping my opinions to myself.

But online, I can take my time -- think through my answer (and even spell check it!) before I join in. Sometimes I'll write and close the window without sending because I decide what I have to say doesn't really further the topic, but at least that's my option. I'm not cut out simply because I want the time to think before I speak. I can read the post at hand, go away and think about it for a while and then come back and express myself clearly. Definitely a plus.

So why not be One Who Blogs? Time, mostly. Blogging well takes time. And time always seems to be at a premium lately. I work full-time, write erotic novels part time (and have a straight fantasy as well as a historical that keep clamoring for my attention), I have a family I love to spend time with -- and blogging just adds one more thing to do into an already busy life.

I know, I know -- others find the time, why can't you, Diana? I have no good answer to that one. Which is why I'm giving this a go again. I'll do my best to write at least one new post a week. And if no one reads it, well, that's okay, too. It's good exercise for my mind. And if you DO read it -- leave a comment now and again? So that I know you're there? In fact, which category do YOU fall into?

Play safe,
Diana

My turn to blog at the Scribes this week. Tough subject...but one I hold as important.

Play safe,
Diana

I couldn't resist...and had to do Submission Revealed as well. The font I used was "Loved by the King"...and it sure shows who is king in this story! Make your own at Wordle!

I've just discovered Wordle...what a wonderful little program! Okay, so it's not so little. What you see above is the cloud tag that came out of the entire text of Secret Submission. I copied the entire text of the novel into Wordle, it picked out the most-used 75 words (discounting common words like "I" and "is") and created the above. Cool! Just click on the picture to see it in its entirety.

Just making an attempt to get my Twitter to report here...:)

I've been posting this on my MySpace blog, but then thought there might be a few people who still read this one :). So here is what's going on in my world lately...

Wednesday, April 16

I managed to get to Pittsburg just fine. Got off the ramp and into real city streets and didn't have far to go...just a quick set of rights and a quick pull into the hotel loop. Right?

Yeah, right.

The first right was closed...road all ripped up as they do construction on...something. I drive around the block, only the blocks aren't square...they're at angles here in Pittsburg and so I stop and ask for directions (I'm not proud). Some very nice women on the street point out the Hilton (which is 2 blocks straight ahead so I wasn't too far off!) and I'm on my way. Pull into the loop...big sign "Valet Parking-- Full". Drat.

I unload and leave all my stuff on the sidewalk beside the bellhop's station, keeping my purse, my laptop and the projector with me. He says, "take a right and another right and the overflow garage is right there."

He was right . The garage was right where he said it would be. And it was full.

This attendant gives me directions for the NEXT garage...I drive over and it's automated and gives me a ticket. I drive up and up and up...finally find a place on the 9th level. Least I think it was a place. If not...I made my own. Parked, grabbed the purse, the laptop and the projector and hiked my way 3 blocks back to the hotel. Where my bags still sat on the sidewalk. No carts available.

So the bellhop tells me to go register and probably by the time I'm done, he'll have found a cart. Now I'm rooming with Jennifer Dunne, who came in yesterday. Only the hotel says she's a no-show. They still have her room available...one with a king sized bed. One bed. Not two. One. I take it, figuring for three nights I can deal with this. Not happily, but I can deal.

I go to my room, breathe. Take a few pics out the window (I'm on the 22nd floor...the better suites and rooms...which I don't mind at all). I grab some of my promo to put down on Promotion Lane and head back down to register for the conference. And who do I find down there? Jennifer Dunne!

Turns out she refused the room with the king-sized bed and made them switch us to a room with two beds. Only the change wasn't ever logged into their computer. So I go BACK to the front desk...tell them I need to change my room. After some confusion, they manage to figure it out.

Only all the bellhops are busy and there aren't any carts. So Jennifer and I lug all my junk from the 22nd floor...to the 6th.

In my roaming around trying to find people, I happened to be waiting on my floor for the elevator (waits can go as long as 20 min!), with a tall, muscular hunk of a model. I thought it might be...wasn't sure...he turned and I saw the tattoo on his shoulder (he wore a muscle shirt)...and I smiled. "You're John Fish," I said with particular brilliance (insert eyeroll here).

He smiled and said he was, so I introduced myself, telling him he's on my book, Winter Studs. We have a fun conversation, the elevator comes and we both ride it down to the ballroom floor and go our separate ways.

Ladies, I can tell you without embellishment, yes...he is as hunky in RL as he is on the cover of that book! He's polite, a true gentleman, and VERY easy on the eyes.

The Ellora's Cave party was fun, as always, although I was pretty tired. By the time I finished this blog post and Jennifer and I finished going over our presentation, it was one in the morning. Thankfully the beds here are comfortable. :)

Today deserves a post unto itself, and I'll write about that in a bit. Play safe!

Diana

Okay...so the world is divided into three sets of people: those who don't know what a blog is, those who keep a blog, and those who comment on blogs. It's taken me a while to realize it, but I belong in the third category.

It's not that I can't pontificate...heck, I do that all the time! Nor is it that I can't write (I let my books speak for themselves on this one), or that I don't have the time (although that is at a premium lately). I'm afraid it really has to do with the fact that I'm just a better kibbitz-er than I am a generator.

So if you're a reader of this sometime-blog, know that I comment like heck all over the blogosphere. I DO have opinions...lots of them. They're just spread hither and yon like so many seeds scattered across a meadow. And know that, although I rarely post here, my thoughts can be found in many places. :)

All that said, there are some important dates coming up. Besides my regular schedule of in-world readings in Second Life (btw, I'm WAY over my shyness at saying particular words...and my audience doesn't seem to mind them at all!) and workshops (just finished a 12-week set of discussions and creative writing exercises and am on hiatus for April), I will actually make an honest-to-goodness, real life, live appearance at the Romantic Times Convention in Pittsburg, PA this month! I'm arriving Wednesday afternoon and will be there all week, including the Saturday booksigning extravaganza :).

While I'm there, Jennifer Dunn and I will be presenting Second Life to the uninitiated and showing other authors how it can be used for promotion. Looks to be a lot of fun :).

So I'll see you 'round the blogosphere...and play safe!
Diana

Well, I got tagged, I guess that means I have to dig out this poor excuse for a blog and write! (grinning).

Here are the rules:
(1) Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
(2) People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
(3) At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
(4) Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Random facts? habits? hmmmm....

1) In real life I also weave. Yes, weave. With a loom. Has treadles (6 of them) and harnesses (4 of those). I get to beam the warp, thread the headles and sley the reed ( love the fact that the language of weaving hasn't changed in over a thousand years). Mostly I make lap rugs from yarn. What can I say? I live in the Finger Lakes and it gets cold in the winter!

2) Speaking of where I live, I live in a Queen Anne Victorian house built originally in the late 1880's. It was one of the best houses in town and boasted a specialty that most homes didn't have...the outhouse out back was connected via a corridor to the main house...and it was a two-holer! The corridor and outhouse are long gone, but boy, does that ground make for some great tomatoes!

3). I have two teenagers...one a senior in high school (yes, we're doing the college visits now...applications are going out and the wait begins...). The other is a sophomore and loves World of Warcraft.

4) Love, love, love Second Life. I went in originally to advertise my books, but have met so many people and made so many friends there that it's become much, much more than a source of advertising.

5) I still have a day job even though I write and have published (at this point) an even dozen stories. One of these days one of the books will catch the right eye at the right time and I'll be able to drop the day job and do full time what I love best: write!

6) I have three college degrees: a BA in Theatre, an MS in Education and a CAS in Educational Administration. Funny how I use the theatre one far more than the other two!

7) My husband is a theatre director...directing five shows a year. We're on haitus now for two weeks...LOVE IT! I actually get to see him for a little while!!! :)

8) I drive a standard. Love the control it gives me over the car. The first car my husband and I shared was a standard and he taught me how to drive it (we're married 26 years this past summer, so I guess I must not have been TOO bad a student!). Don't ever want anything BUT a standard. Too much fun to drive!

LOL Okay! I'm done. Now I need to tag eight other people. Hmmmm...I tag....

Heath Vercher, Ruby Storm, Ruth Kerce, Ravishal Bentham...and I can't think of any more who have blogs! At least that haven't been tagged already.

Play safe...and enjoy! :)
Diana

I blogged over at the Sizzling Scribes blog today...it was my turn :). Head on over and have a read!

Play safe,
Diana

http://sizzlingscribes.blogspot.com/

LOL...I can barely keep up with one blog...but the Sizzling Scribes have decided to undertake a group blog where each of us will take a week and post. One week out of ten? I think I can handle that.

Head on over and take a peek. Soon as I remember how to add this to my blogroll, I'll get the link into the side panel....

Play safe!
Diana

Well, as you can see, I've been very lackadaisical in posting to this thing. The latest idea was a bit of a bust, although I thank those who did participate. I suppose I should just up and admit, I'm a better fiction writer than blogger, period.

That said, it's been an interesting several months! I've done live readings in Second Life...yes, readings of my very own work. It was hard at first...I was terribly nervous and I self-edited some of the more specific words out of my readings. The second reading I suddenly came across the word "pussy" that I had missed in my editing and hesitated before saying it. But the audience egged me on and I haven't looked back since. I think, though, it cost me some listeners.

In fact, while I had a segment that wanted to hear the hotter stuff, the majority (I think) didn't want it so explicit. It was really hard to tell. I started with audiences/listeners of 15-17 people...and by the end of a six weeks had only 2 or 3. Time to face facts...either they didn't like my voice, didn't like the selections, didn't like me....I had to do some pretty dark soul-searching because the reality was that, whatever I was doing, it wasn't working.

So I took a hiatus, ostensibly to write more (which I have done), but it reality, it was to nurse a wounded ego. I really don't have a big one. No, really...I don't! lol But to go from a small audience to a tiny one would make anyone stop and think. During this time (most of May), I curtailed my SL time somewhat...touched base with the Real World and started a new project (see, you can't keep me down for long!).

Working with Selina Greene of Book Island, I proposed 4 writing workshops. I thought to use my stream and do a combination of streaming and chat in order to present. The delay makes it...interesting! I'm either ahead of the conversation by a full minute...or behind it! But the attendance has been steady in the 20-25 people range--a perfect number for a workshop. Small enough that everyone who wants to participate in the chat can...and yet large enough to make Book Island want more.

So yes, I added two more workshops to the line up and probably would go on with more, but I'm going on holiday (yes, I'm from the States, so I should say 'on vacation' but I really like the British choice of words better!) and I won't be in-world for three weeks. I hope they don't forget me!

I'll be adding more workshops when I come back as well as restarting this set from the beginning for those who missed a workshop or two. I'm having fun...and even when the stream breaks down or SL decides not to cooperate, I'm finding the people of SL are just fun to be with and are very understanding that technology always comes with issues.

If you're still reading this...I have a few thank yous to give: to Secundo Dharma who has been a big supporter and who interviewed me for SLCN; to Selina Greene of Book Island who is graciously hosting these writing workshops, and to Ronin Kirosawa of Booksquare who is helping the publishing world see there are alternate avenues to getting your work out for public consumption (sorry, Selina...can't find the link for the Book Island website!).

I'll try to be better in posting to the blog!

With AS the SL WORLD TURNS off to a good start, I've turned my attention in Second Life to doing readings of my works. Taking a lesson from the musicians, I have done three readings so far...one in my home shop (Passionate Books) and two on the island of Hukilau, where I was asked to come and read! Two other sims have contacted me about doing a reading in their venues and I'm setting up a weekly reading at Passionate Books.

I have to say that this blows my mind a bit. I've never even done a reading of my works in RL! The response has been positive (although the lag between the time I make a joke and the time I get a response from the crowd does drive me crazy a bit. Ahh..the technology of broadcasting!). I do worry people will get bored, though, so I hope they'll tell me if a piece is too long...or too hot!

Wednesdays, Passionate Books, 5 PM SLT...at least, every Wednesday in March to see how it goes. I have already begun to line up some guest authors in the erotic romance genre. The format of the hour is still a work-in-progress. At the moment, three readings with time in between for questions and/or stories (if no one asks questions) seems to work.

Still hoping for people to begin using this blog as an outlet for their Second Life stories!

Hooray! My bookshop is named and open for business in the Mystic sim of Second Life. Today is the official opening!

For those of you who don't know, a few months back I decided to explore this new "game" called Second Life and see what kind of promotional opportunities might be there. I'd heard a piece about it on NPR and the announcer mentioned Ford and Toyota had places there...I thought...well, if they can, why can't I?

The learning curve is incredibly steep...it took me two months just to get a clue how to create objects, what prims were to begin with...how to make Linden dollars so I could buy all the gorgeous dresses! But this week, the climb up will bear fruit as I open Passionate Books, Diana Hunter, Prop.

To celebrate the opening, I'm offering the first two episodes of my new serial...AS THE SL WORLD TURNS...a set of stories set in Second Life whose storyline is directed, not only by my own experiences thus far, but by those of the readers as well. To get your copies, stop by Passionate Books...and read a few hot excerpts while you're there!

This is a new form of storytelling for me, but it is not a static story with a set plot already formed in my head. Come tell your own SL stories! I will take pieces of your adventures and weave and interweave the wonderful threads into a tapestry filled with the color and passion of Second Life. Let Rosie’s story be truly interactive…come post your thoughts about each episode and help direct the next one!

Play safe!
Diana

This blog is taking on a second life. Or maybe I should captialize that? Let me explain...

I started this blog initally as a place to do some thinking out loud about characters and stories. Thought readers might be interested in the "behind the scenes" look at the writing process. Well, to put it bluntly, they weren't. I don't know how many people subscribe to this blog, heck, I can't even find the darn RSS button it supposedly has on it somewhere. Few people leave comments, even when I post on bigger topics. Over the past several months, I've been posting less and less frequently as a result.

Those of you who DO read, know that my past few posts have mentioned Second Life, the Linden company's virtual world that mirrors everyday life...and yet has its own, unique reality. I've established a presence there, with a new reading room/coffeeshop/bookstore-type place to showcase my books. Click on a book cover and read an excerpt...follow the links to Ellora's Cave Publishing and voila! Purchase my books! Clever, huh?

Except I don't want it to end there. Second Life has far too many stories of its own to leave them untold. So, sitting with Ravishal Bentham one day (owner of East End Radio), we got to chatting about how to tell those stories. He told me of another story-teller who publishes on the web, adding a chapter on a regular basis, whose readers comment on his stories and gives him direction for the storyline.

Well, that got me to thinkin'....What about a story set both in RL (real life) and SL (Second Life)? A story that not only took some of my own adventures and viewed them through the eyes of a fictitious character, but that allowed readers to post their own stories as well? A story that could be directed by the readers as new worlds are created and new events occur? In other words, not a static, already-plotted out story...but a new, dynamic storytelling where the reader could interact with the characters and the storyline!

But of course, I need a way for readers to talk back to me. Find me in-world (I'm Diana Allandale, in-world), or add your stories here for the world to read. Let's give this blog its own Second Life!

Play safe,
Diana

Something old...something new...and Second Life!

The old first...which isn't so very old...I have been working on a sequel to Secret Submission. When I first concieved the novel, I had a much larger story in mind. One that went all the way to Sarah and Phillip's wedding. I pitched it to Ellora's Cave as a two-novel set, but since I was an untried (an as yet, un-pubbed) author, they would only buy the first book, since it was finished and the second part existed only in my mind. Wise choice on their part.

Over the past few years, I set the story of Sarah and Phillip aside as I worked on other projects. But every time I opened the story starts folder I have tucked away on my computer...the file of bits and pieces would stare at me...accusing me of abandoning them. This past fall, I gave into the guilt and pulled the pieces out.

Tentatively titled, Submission Revealed, the story has flowed quickly. There is but one scene left to finish (and it's a doozy of a sex scene!) and I can send it in to my editor. I have hopes to have it done by the first of the year which, by the calendar on the wall beside me, says I'd better get to it! I wrote 3000 words in the last two days...another 3000 or so ought to finish everything off.

Something new...I have my first Exotica novel debuting in January! Mostly, as you know, I write erotic romances. A New York Moment is my first that is more erotic and less romantic...although there is a romantic element to it. It's a Quickie...just a short story, as befits the title!

and Second Life.

When I originally started in Second Life, it was to explore the online possibilities of a place for my readers to visit with me. I'd heard of the colleges that were conducting online classes and the big businesses that were getting into the SL market for their products (like Toyota and Ford!). I figured there had to be a place for an erotic romance author with a small following to find a pleasant place to chat with one another in a real-time environment much more pleasant than an online chat room.

With that vision in mind, I started my Second Life exploration. What I discovered along the way were casinos galore and entrepreneurs every other person...places of education and BDSM clubs as well. I also discovered a sim full of friends and soon-to-be neighbors. While I currently have a few places open where people can download excerpts from my books, by the end of January I hope to have that place I originally envisioned...a permanant spot with lots of comfy couches where readers can come to download excerpts and talk about books, erotica, and life in general. The spot is already reserved...the building has begun! Soon, you will be able to sit and chat with Diana Hunter (as Diana Allandale, my SL avatar) in a marvelous new way!

Till then,
play safe!

Diana

I haven't blogged much because of two happenings in my life that have been keeping me busy. The first is a new story (yay!)...and no, I'm not going to spill the beans till it's done and into my editor (which, if all goes well, should be in the next week or two).

The second, appropriately enough, is Second Life. I know I asked before if there were any SLers out here, and I did discover a few (waving hi to Montecore). Well, recently I rented space at the Nantucket sim and have put up a few of my book covers. More will be coming soon. I'm also trying to figure out how to create notecards so that when you click on a cover, you get a card with an excerpt from the book as well as purchasing information. Actually, I've created the cards...just have to try and figure out how to attach them to the posters!

The entire idea of Second Life is intriguing...at first I thought of it as just a giant chat room with avatars. But it really is a lot more than that. Sometimes, I will admit, I feel a bit like I'm playing with my Barbies again...every time I change my avatar's clothes. And believe me, Diana Allandale (my avatar on SL) likes to change into appropriate clothing for the sim she's in! Guess I miss playing Barbies more than I thought!

I have met some wonderful people there...from all over the world. A few days ago I visited a BDSM spot and the place was taking a long time to "rez" (sometimes the resolution of a site takes a bit of time). Several people stood nearby, carrying on a conversation and I eavesdropped as I rezzed. Being me, I couldn't resist going over when my avatar was finally fully pictured and joining in. The conversation revolved around Real Life issues of real Master/slave relationships. What an opportunity to talk to people about a subject near and dear to my heart...with no sideways glances, with no disapproving looks, with no concerns about what people might think!

LOL I could go on and on...but I'd better get back to writing this story.

Play safe!
Diana

Any Second Lifers out there?

I sent this out to my fans via newsletter...then realized that perhaps this is the better home for it.

My new obsession (besides writing, of course!). If you haven't heard of Second Life, you will. It's the next MySpace. Place has been around for about five years, but is just now coming into it's own.

What's the difference you ask? Well, Second Life (SL) uses avatars that you can customize to the nth degree. Make it look like you...make it look like Catherine Zeta-Jones...your choice. No one uses their RL (Real Life) names...although I do use my first name. You choose your last name from a list, so I'm Diana Allandale on SL. There's a real economy and you can buy and sell cyber stuff...or real stuff. Toyota has a dealership out there and Reuters just put a real-life reporter "on the scene" to report on SL happenings. Go to concerts...take a class...gamble...the whole world is recreated.

Now, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Like anything...it's all in the user. Yes, there are "griefers" who are annoying. Yes, the land is expensive (and no, I can't afford to buy any yet). Yes, gambling and cybersex is VERY available. But then again, so are online courses and some wonderful shops (if you're there, check out Shakespeare & Company!). So, for the most part, asking if Second Life is a good thing or a bad thing, is like asking...is Real Life a good thing or a bad thing?

So if you're out and about in SL, look for me, Diana Allandale! I'm sometimes at the Bondage Cafe (where else?), but I think if you do a search, you'll find me wherever I am (guilty secret...I like to hang out in the chairs that pay you to sit there and fill in to make the place look full. You get paid a minimal amount...but like I said...I don't have many Linden dollars and I'll take what jobs I can! LOL Besides which, I can sit there...and have my file open and be writing away at the same time!).

As always...and whether in real or Second life...PLAY SAFE!

Diana

Read this great article entitled "Are you an Internet Addict?" and had to answer with a resounding, "YES!" I went down through the list of symptoms and know I have five of the eight.

I definitely like having the latest Internet gadgets, even if I don't exactly know how to use them to their fullest capability.

I often wonder if I have email and usually have the window up all the time so I can just maximize and hit "check email" 'cause I don't want to miss something important.

I go online to escape...not to escape problems so much as escaping characters who won't behave!

Disregarding emotional or physical consequences of staring at the computer screen for so long? Heck, I have glasses...and aspirin. What more do I need?

General decrease in physical activity or social life? What's a social life? And I'm pretty sure getting up to use the bathroom or visit the fridge counts as physical activity.

That's the five. So am I an addict? Yeah, I probably am. Especially since I have one more symptom this blogger doesn't mention... I'm sitting here blogging about other people's blogs!


Have fun and play safe,
Diana

The world is shy one deer after this morning I've had. Dark, rainy roads...oncoming traffic. Difficult to see much, so I'm driving under the 55 mph speed limit (admittedly, not by much, but I WAS under it). A deer standing in the middle of the road. Just standing there. Looking at me. Of course, I had about three-quarters of a second to register this fact before the thud came and I saw it flying past my window.

Damn. Not even a year old, either...although in that shortened second between sight and impact it looked huge. I pulled over, the oncoming car pulled over...he got out and pulled the deer from the road and went on. I got out...several yards up the road and watched, pulling my cell phone out as I did so.

I'm fine. The deer has gone to Heaven (yes, I believe animals have souls). The accident has been reported to the police (thank goodness I had my laptop in the car while I waited for the officer to come make a report. Because there were no injuries to anyone except the deer, I wasn't a high priority as I sat in my car waiting for an hour before a member of the K-9 unit came to write it up for me. Got bored, so took out my next story and got to work editing it. Tease, tease!). I've gotten my estimate ($1500 to the front corner of my car...a Hyundai Elantra. Hood's okay...headlight's smashed. Front bumper is only crumpled a little and the side panel has a rip in it). Now I'm home and have decided work can do without me for the day.

I hate the fact that I just killed a deer...and one less than a year old, at that. Seems such a waste. The philosophical part of me keeps looking for the reason behind it, but the practical side of me just says, 'get over it. Accidents happen.' The practical side of me also says, 'Don't waste the day you were given....get writing!'

So I'm off to get a cup of hot chocolate and find a comfortable spot to curl up in. The house is strangely quiet...I'm not used to being home in the middle of the day. But something tells me, I will enjoy the unexpected time alone.

Play safe...and watch for deer!

Diana

I write romances with heavy bondage scenes. In my books, the man is sexually dominant and the woman is always submissive. Often they have issues...troubles...dealing with their sexual preferences. A man who doesn't want to give into the 'cave man' mentality of bossing a woman around...a woman who needs to reconcile her hard-won, feminist independence with a desire to just relax and give all that power to a man. The Dominant/submissive dynamic and the internal struggles that go along with it have always fascinated me.

But I go further than that in my romances. I add in some of the stronger elements of BDSM. She likes being tied..."forced" to do things she would never have dreamed of until meeting a man she calls "Master." Slavery. Sexual slavery that teases...excites...fulfills. I write of our deepest held secrets, of fantasies we only whisper to ourselves on dark nights when no one can hear. I write of snapping whips and chains that bind, of spankings that leave the skin pink, and of hot sex that leaves the reader breathless.

And then a man goes into a schoolroom and tells the boys to leave, keeping the teenagers he then makes sexual advances toward. He takes their freedom...and at least one life. And another man walks into another schoolroom, this one filled with children, and he keeps only the little girls, tying their ankles so they cannot walk. He plans to sexually assault them, but kills them instead.

These men are twisted and sick and they differ from my heroes only in the matter of degree. Bondage, male dominance, the sexual submission of women...these are themes that run through these crimes just as assuredly as they run through my books. Do I bear some of the responsibility for their heinous actions? I don't have an answer to that...and it torments me.

Consent is a big part of the key...my heroes always obtain the consent of the woman they love. They do not push their sexual preferences on those who do not want them. My heroes respect women and love them for their independence, understanding that the power truly lies with the woman in a D/s relationship...for a woman has only to say the word, and the ropes are untied, the bondage gear put away, and the "play" ends.

"Play." Another key element, I suppose. Even among real people who truly live D/s lifestyles, the term "play" is used along with another word to describe the sexual act with all the trimmings: a "scene." Both these terms, derived from the theatre, denote a setting-apart...a definite movement of the action out of real life and into a realm of fantasy.

My husband tells me I cannot be responsible for other's mental illnesses. These men could not see the line between fantasy and reality...a line that is often blurred even by those of us society considers "normal." I understand that. I really do. And yet, a part of me will always wonder when these things happen...where does my responsibility begin? And where does it end.

Please...please...please....ALWAYS remember to
Play Safe.

Diana

Cabin Fever is now on sale! You can buy the print version here at Amazon (although they list it only as presale) or here at EC's home site. Barnes and Noble also still lists it as pre-sale (the 'big boys' need to update their pages!). If you'd like an excerpt...check it out here. Reviews, too!

From its position on the Coming Soon page, I'd say Kara's Captain will be out (ebook format) the first week in October. Don't quote me on that, though. Believe me, when it releases, I'll post the information! Check out my website or the newsletter to get a sneak peek!

And watch for New York Moment and A Devil in Winter...both coming this December!

Till then, play safe!
Diana

Well, it's taken me a while, but I've finally signed up for MySpace. LOL No, not as one of my characters (yes, I know that seems to be a hot new gimmick, but I'd rather write the character's stories than write the character's blog. Call me old fashioned....).

No, I'm there as myself. If you'd like to see my profile, check it out and then add me as a friend. I look forward to seeing you there!

On the writing front, we go from famine to feast. After not having a release since last (gasp!) October, looks like there will be three out at the end of this year. Kara's Captain should be out sometime in October (crossing fingers!), and Devil of a Winter in December (crossing toes!). And of course, there's always the Quickie New York Moment for Ellora's Cave new Exotica line!

How does an author get herself into these situations? For me, it all began last year when I was trying to write a novella for the now-defunct Lady Jaided Magazine. I started two stories, one of which actually went on to become Kara's Captain. But we had a sorrowful spring in our family, with the passing of a beloved great uncle and then the untimely death of my father-in-law. Although I had several stories started at that point, I just couldn't seem to concentrate enough to finish any of them.

But time moves on and so do we. In the space of a few weeks early this summer, I finished all three stories and sent them in. Final edits are now done on all and I can turn my attention to something new...or something started and not yet finished...which is more the case.

So what have I settled on? You may remember Secret Submission (my banned Ebay book...which, by the way, is still banned and no closer to being reinstated. That's okay...give Amazon or Barnes and Noble the business instead). Well, ages ago, I wrote a small scene between Sarah and Phillip that didn't make it into the book. It's been sitting on my computer just begging to have a story written around it. I pulled it out last week and decided to play around with it. I even have a title: Submission Revealed. Looks like a keeper!

I liken choosing a story to work on to throwing spaghetti at the wall to see if it's done. I remember my mother flinging a piece of pasta at the wall behind the stove. If it slid down the wall, she'd get out the cloth and wipe the starch off the wall, pick up the dropped pasta and throw it away. Two minutes later, she'd do it again.

Well, I use much the same approach when starting a new story. First I'll read through the half-dozen or so manuscripts that are started. If the characters from any one of them start talking, I'll stay with them a while and see if the story "sticks." If it does...we're off and running. If it doesn't, I clean the starch from my computer and.... No, if the characters are silent, I move on to the next file. And if all of them are silent? I just start a new story with new characters and follow along until either 1) they shut up and I have another unfinished story, or 2) they take me all the way to the end.

Okay, so it's about as organized and scientific as throwing pasta at the wall to see if it's cooked. So far it's worked for me!

(by the way, my mom no longer throws pasta at the wall. She's living in a house where the stove is on an island, okay...a penninsula...and has no wall to use. Now she just tastes it...as I have learned to do as well!).

Off to visit with Sarah and Phillip...and I'll see you on MySpace!

Play safe,
Diana

Susan Gable made a great post regarding buying used vs new books. This is such a touchy subject...and she does a great job explaining why authors tend to push the sales of new books rather than used (bottom line: authors don't get any royalties on the used book). Problem is, explaining that to readers without coming across as capitalistic pigs isn't exactly easy.

That's why I like Susan's post so much. She explains the ins and outs (and freely admits she often buys used or uses the library as well. In the interest of complete disclosure here, I have to admit to the same, although our library doesn't stock erotica titles...!) without coming across as whiny or money-hungry. A fine line to walk...and she manages it quite well.

Hmmm...wonder if subliminal messages would work? Note to self: figure out how to encode BUY MY BOOKS NEW into the text of every email message and posting I make...LOL

In the meantime, Play safe!
Diana

Wow.

Many thanks to Melissa at Paperbacks and Things for a GREAT booksigning experience. She throws quite a party, let me tell you! If you ever get the chance to go to her store, DO IT! She's an incredible lady who makes everyone feel at home. Her store is great, too...with places to sit and chat about books, philosophy, or the kids at home. And believe me, we covered all those bases and more this past Saturday!

Also, I need to send some thanks over to Debbie E for the pictures you can find here. My Dear Heart and I decided to turn this tour into a family vacation, so we went to Cedar Point last Thursday, the booksigning in Cleveland on Friday, Paperbacks and Things on Saturday and Greenfield Village yesterday, the Ford plant and Henry Ford Museum today and home tomorrow. My Internet usage is spotty, so am posting this now while I can. Will post a LOT more when I get home.

till then, play safe!
Diana

For those of you who don't know, my husband is a theatre director...directing several high school plays a year at two different local high schools (he says he likes working with high school kids 'cause they haven't developed any bad habits in acting yet. Gives him a chance to set them on their way with good skills). He also directs one community show in the summer...a big musical that people from all over the Finger Lakes come to see. This past week has been production week, sandwiched in between my own booksignings. LOL A busy time here, that's for sure!

But I do need to share with you a great set of pictures taken at the GreeceRidge Mall Waldenbooks booksigning. Judy Mays is on the left, Jennifer Dunne in the middle and me (in white and red) on the left.

As you can see...Jeanette (the store manager) loves EC books and had us out front and center. We got some strange looks, I can tell you! Especially when Rose and Rick Taubold showed up with their Got Sex T-shirts! Some of you may have met Rick at the RT conference...he was also in Heather Graham's vampire show! But many thanks to both Rick and Rose for creating quite a bit of buzz with those wonderful shirts!

It was also a chance to get to meet a long-time fan...auntcaffey! She's an absolutely charming woman...I only wish we had more of an opportunity to visit.

Don't forget! I'll be in Cleveland, Ohio at the Borders Express and in Westlake, Michigan at Paperbacks and Things this coming weekend. Stop in and say hello!

As always, play safe!

Diana

Quickie reminder...I'll be signing books at the GreeceRidge Waldenbooks from 2:00 - 4:00 pm tomorrow (that's Saturday, July 8th). I'll be joined by Jennifer Dunne, Nikki Soarde and Judy Mays. If you're in the Rochester, NY neighborhood...stop by and say hello!

Play safe,
Diana

One of the questions I'm frequently asked is, "Where do you get your inspiration?" I thought I'd take a moment today and give at least a part of the answer.

The plot lines of my stories are driven by character (those of you who read my blog often already know this...and the troubles I've had when characters choose to act independently of their author!). But those characters must come from somewhere. Some of them are composites of people I actually know...taking a gesture from this person, a phrasing from that...a turn of the head or a favorite activity...and combining them into a unique character that is brought to life only by the words on the page and the workings of our imaginations.

But many come from art. Yes, you heard me. There are some magnificent BDSM artists out there painting, drawing, sketching some wonderful works of art. The Drunna series by Serpieri, the pin-ups of Greg Hildebrandt, the work of Ken Marcus and Eric Stanton, and then a site I found most recently: some wonderful photographs by William are among the many I have used as inspiration over the past few years.

(sidenote on the Hildebrandt brothers: they are perhaps most famous for their Tolkien artworks, however, stop by their website and you will see they have incredibly eclectic tastes!)

In any case, feel free to visit the galleries of the above artists...and email me with artists you've found. If I get enough, I'll add a page to my website in the future...a listing of great BDSM art!

Play safe,
Diana

If you haven't gone over to the website in a while, check it out: www.dianahunter.net. Mirus Group did a great job with a redesign...one that was sorely needed. The previous one had been done by yours truly and looked it. While I was quite proud of what I did (and AM proud of it), the reality was that it looked like it had been designed by someone who didn't know much about webdesign. And since my forte is in storytelling and NOT webdesign...well...let's just say it was time.

I am running a contest comparing the old and new designs. If you want to get in on that (free download or print book of any of my current releases is the prize), head on over to my newsletter and get the details.

On the story front, New York Oasis is now renamed A New York Moment...a much better title, I think. And it looks like EC will not be publishing it under that imprint. My editor thinks it might be better placed with EC's as-yet-unnamed erotica line, since the romance in this little Quickie is not as important as the sexual activity. Not too hot for EC, but not romantic enough. But I had fun with it, and may write some more in this vein just to explore the dynamics between the hero and heroine. Will keep you posted as to when it might be available for purchase!

Frankenstein's Captain, a novella-length paranormal, should be finished by the end of June...and back to my editor. She told me it needed more...and as usual, she was right. It needs an entire chapter! (Was going to tell you what I was writing, but don't want to spoil the story...not really trying to be a tease. Well, okay, maybe a little one... ). Am working on that and hope to get the story completed and out to the public by autumn.

Stop by my website and let me know what you think of the changes!

Play safe,
Diana

A great article on Rodney Chatman here. Scroll down to see his picture and read why we all love him so much.

Gonna keep this short today...will be blogging about my new website design shortly, though....

Play safe,
Diana

Haven't tried this before, but here goes! I'm trying to include a picture of Rodney Chatman...Mr. Romance 2006! I do wish I'd gotten a pic of him without his hat. He looked dashing in it, but this picture doesn't do him justice. And I should've let my hair down...ah well...there's always next year!

Play safe!

Diana 

Reading back through my RT posts, I realized I never talked about the food at the Hilton. I've told you their service was great, even if they couldn't figure out the Internet problem. And the beds! Holy moley...wish I could take one of those beds home with me!

But their food? What we had wasn't awful, but it was rather plain. And not nearly enough of it. At the convention we're given one large luncheon a day and the rest is made up of mixers where food and drink is readily available. At the nighttime parties there are usually nosh-type food. The breakfast mixers weren't bad, with plenty of coffee for those who drink it, but rarely juice. And usually only one type of danish. I know that's partly the decision of the sponsor so let me tell you now...the 10 of us who are members of the Fantasy Club are planning to sponsor a breakfast next year...and we'll have juice and muffins and cinnamon rolls...and lots and lots of coffee!

So I get to the airport yesterday, go through security (the security guard got a good chuckle over my shirt. Yes, I was wearing my "Got Sex?" T-shirt. On the back it says "We do. Ellora's Cave Publishing"), and make my way to my gate. I'm taking what I expect will be a puddle jumper from Daytona to Atlanta and then home from there.

Cheyenne McCray is already waiting at the gate. So is Jory Strong. Shortly Lynn La Fleur joins us as well as Cricket Starr, Mardi Ballou and Mackenzie McKade. I think there were more, but I can't remember (I was working on only about 4 hrs sleep). If you were there, let me know and I'll add you in! And if I have you as being on that plane and you weren't...well, it's amazing what a little sleep deprivation will do to you!

A few minutes later, the EC staff shows up...Cindy and Brian and Jeania and Kelly. And all the cover models...CJ and Rodney and all the rest. All on one plane to Atlanta! As we started to board someone said, "This plane better not go down! Erotic romance will never be the same!" LOL

Now, you would think a plane filled with these party animals would be lively and loud. Had it been 8:00 at night that probably would be true. But I think every one of us fell asleep as the plane flew us to our next destination. We parted ways in Atlanta, each going off to different gates and different parts of the country. Next year -- Houston!

I had over two hours till my next flight, so decided to walk the tunnel rather than take the subway. Besides, I only had to go from Gate E to C this time. C24 -- which is down in a hole, and looks it. The seats were all cracked, boards were over the video terminals that told what flights were coming and going. There was one toilet shared by men and women. I took some comfort from the sign that said the entire C wing was undergoing an upgrade.

It gets close to the time I know we should begin boarding and the announcement comes over the loudspeaker, "We are now boarding for Ottawa, Canada. Please have your passports ready."

One problem: I'm not going to Ottawa. I have a passport, but not with me. Because I'm going to Rochester, NY, not Canada.

So I go up to the desk and inquire politely if the gate for my flight has been changed (it hadn't when I went down into the hole two hours earlier, but there was no working video monitor down there). I was supposed to be at Gate 36 now.

I hauled it down to the other gate and got there just two minutes before they began boarding. Talk about a close call! The flight home was fine until just before landing. There was a storm over Rochester, with 20-30 mile an hour winds. We came in over the Lilac Festival and it was very cool to see Highland Park from the air with all the lilacs in bloom. Looked like a Monet painting with dollops of purple and white and lavender on the hillside.

So the landing was a bit bumpy, but certainly not anything to worry about. My family took me out to Friday's for supper (love that Jack Daniel's shrimp!) and then home. And bed!

Now it's back to writing for a living...need to put my feet back on the ground, both literally and figuratively...and get those stories done!

Play safe,
Diana

It’s hard to believe the RT convention is over. Well, over for me. It’s 12:08 am on Sunday morning and I have to be up at 5:30 to catch my flight home. Yes, 5:30 in the morning.

I’d like to send a very big hello to Robin! She’s been reading my books and is my biggest fan. Tonight we got out on the dance floor and cut the rug some, let me tell you! Robin, you are the greatest!

I’ve met so many wonderful people that to list them would create a post longer than my arm! But special hellos must also be given to Sunny, Deborah and Kendra…it was so much fun meeting each one of you!

And a special congratulations to our own Rodney Chatman…the new Mr. Romance! I’m so proud of him!! If you’ve never had the opportunity to meet him, let me tell you…he’s the nicest, politest, sweetest man you’ll ever meet. And, of course, he’s gorgeous. And I can say, “I knew him when!” Congratulations, Rodney!

This has been the best RT ever…okay, the best of the three I’ve gone to. So many good things have happened this week. From the people I’ve met, to the awards won by authors and my very own cover model (Rodney’s on the cover of Tales from the Temple III, just in case you aren’t sure which one he is) to getting my hand slapped at the bookfair today by a woman who told me, “Secret Submission is the dirtiest book I’ve ever read.” Slap. “And I’ve read it several times.”

Things like that make my day. As a author, I tend to stay in my own little world, writing stories that haunt my thoughts. Sometimes I forget that people are actually out there reading them. Days like these past few make me realize my books touch people in ways I have never imagined. Thank you to all of you for sharing your experiences with me. You give me reason to keep writing.

Play safe,

Diana

EC has the Tales from the Oasis series...I have my Tales from RT!

Let's see...there was no hotel shuttle on Wednesday (despite my standing in front of an ad that said there was, the hotel denied having any such service and told me to take a taxi. I did.). Ruby and I were going to meet, but hadn't set up a time or place. We figured we'd just find each other once we were here. That was before we knew the RT convention space was spread all over the hotel and that it was a quarter mile hike between the two main venues.

But we found each other at last...in fact, yesterday (Thursday) Ruby, Lynn LaFleur, Nikki Soarde and I walked down the boardwalk to get pizza. We were joined by Ruby's sister, mother and daughter (these women are a kick!) and later by two reviewers from FAR! But again, I'm jumping ahead...

Back to Rodney. He's so sweet. If you've forgotten, Rodney is the cover model on the Tales From the Temple III that I have a short story in. Did you know he's competing for the Mr. Romance title this year? He has MY vote, that's for sure!

EC decided to offer pictures with the cover models at the party this year with the proceeds going to the Montel Williams MS Foundation. I went over to get my pic taken with Rodney and found poor Kelly and Cindy going crazy. The line got long VERY fast and they hadn't expected the volume of sales, so they were short-staffed. I volunteered to run the printer so they could do the selling and photography, respectively. LOL That was at 9: 30. At 11:30 I was still at the printer, getting pics out to people. Amazng response!

So no dancing for me Wednesday night. Missed the cover models, who did a solo performance in the middle of the evening. But then again, I sat and watched all the pics being taken of them and saw all the prints. Terrible job, to have to look at them all night long...but then again...I don't mind sacrificing myself.

But yes, I got my pic with Rodney!

Yesterday (Thursday) was a busy day as well...and finally got to dance last night some. OH!!! There will be some REALLY, REALLY good news coming soon! Only telling you it's coming right now...am going to wait until it's official to actually announce. But it's WONDERFUL! (tease, tease!).

Am off to lunch now...will write more later!
Play safe,
Diana

Internet access! Finally!!!

A special thanks to the staff at the Hilton, Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Village! I had troubles all day with getting onto the Internet (proved to be an easy fix...which I accidently found tonight...after the hotel tech spent much time and effort trying to deal with this afternoon. And it isn't his fault he couldn't find it...but I discovered the hotel's system just wouldn't deal with more than one day at a time. Wait...let me tell this right...)

I tried to log in this morning (costs $10.00/day for access...same as several other hotels I've been in), and it would go through the entire process, but then tell me I didn't exist and therefore, couldn't have access. Drove all of us crazy till the tech finally threw in the towel and gave me free breakfast coupons as compensation for his not being able to fix the problem.

But I miss the internet...and knew my mail was piling up. So when I got back from "dinner" (more on that in a bit), I decided to give it one more go. This time, however, instead of trying to get access for my entire stay, I tried just for tonight. Voila! I'm here! Will I be here tomorrow? Who knows? Maybe tomorrow their system will decide I don't exist again! LOL

But I'm here now...and finally taking a breath. Talk about an exciting two days!

Yesterday I was up for 22 hours. Rose at 3:00 AM and left the house at 3:30 to go to the airport. May I say I have the most wonderful husband on earth? He never complained once about the awful hour, but got up with me and drove the two-hour round trip to drop me at the airport, then came home, got the kids up (I have teenagers...you may know what fun it is to get that age up and out the door in the morning) and off to school before heading off for his own classes (he's a college professor).

Flight took off on time; we were three minutes early landing in Atlanta. Good thing. We disembarked at gate A3. My connecting flight left from gate E31. Now I've been in a few airports before...that's not a long haul.

Except in Atlanta. I swear the airport must be laid out in one mile-long building. And no, I'm not exaggerating. You walk underground to get from gate to gate and beside the walkway (parts of which are moving sidewalks...thank the Good Lord above for those! You'll see why in a minute)...but beside the walkway is a gul-derned TRAIN! I'm not kidding. It's a self-contained subway system that simply runs from one end of the airport to the other and back again. And how long is the rail line? One mile!!!

Now I can walk a mile. Do it in 15 minutes on a good day and barely work up a sweat. Except there are only 25 minutes between the time I land and the time boarding begins for the next flight. I know what you're thinking. "Okay, Diana...that gives you a buffer of 10 minutes...what's the big deal?"

Remember I said "good day." I was so excited Tuesday night, I didn't get to sleep until 1:00AM. We got up at three to go to the airport, so I'm working on two hours of sleep in a 30-hour period. Add to that the fact that I'm carrying 40 pounds of luggage in one suitcase (filled with promo items, of course...the airline can lose my clothes and I'll just buy new ones. But my promo comes with ME!), and another 20 pounds (including this laptop) in my backpack. AND the fact that I had no idea the walk was that long until I was about halfway to my gate and I'd been walking for ten minutes already, so I wasn't rushing. That ten-minute buffer? Shot!

Thank goodness I got to the gate and found out that, while I was treking the bowels of the Atlanta airport, my flight was delayed fifteen minutes. Thank you, Lord! I sat down, took three breaths and then was up and getting on board.

And of course, hit the ground running! Will write more later tonight with stories about getting to the hotel (nothing could be easy, could it?) finding Ruby Storm (Ruby! Where are you?), and getting my picture taken with Rodney Chatman (could any man be sweeter?).


Until then, Play safe!

Diana

I've been a little quiet here, of late...you may be asking why. I do have reasons!

In the past two weeks, I've managed to complete and send to my editor not one, not two, but THREE stories...two novellas and a Quickie. Yes, I know, I haven't had a new release since October, 2005 (that was seven months ago -- an eternity in reader's minds), but I really have been working!

Two of the three are now in edits (one novella and the Quickie). It's my hope that I can get the Quickie turned around quickly and out by the end of July-ish. Don't quote me on that...in my little world, however, everything goes smoothly and there are no glitches or emergencies that take me away from writing.

Not that the Romantic Times conference that starts today (I'll arrive there tomorrow afternoon) is a glitch or an emergency! It will take me away from writing, but to be honest, I'll welcome the chance to recharge my batteries and meet friendly faces. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones...and getting my picture with a model or two!

No, I'm not releasing titles just yet. :) Not trying to be a tease, but I want these babies done before I celebrate. I will tell you one of the novellas definitely comes out in November and is a part of the Winter Studs stories that Ruth Kerce, Ruby Storm and I have put together for you. But the other two? I'll announce those in a few weeks...after I've finished edits. And I'll include excerpts then, too!

(Yes, I know that those of you who are determined will do a little detective work and figure out which stories are forthcoming...solving a little mystery is a good way to keep the mind young! Go ahead and post your guesses here. First one to get either story's title correct will win a small prize. Chocolate is always good. LOL)

If I can get a good Internet connection at the hotel in Daytona Beach, you can count on posts to keep you up-to-date on all the doings. My plane leaves home at 6:05 AM (yes, that means I need to be to the airport between 4-4:30 in the morning) with a layover in Atlanta. I should get to Daytona around 11:00 am and to the hotel shortly after that.

For those who are already there...make room at the bar!
For those who are coming...see you soon!
For those who will not be there...I'll send reports as often as I can!

Play safe,
Diana

There has been some discussion in the blogsphere lately concerning the honesty of reviewers. Sybil, at Romancing the Blog posed the question: Would an author prefer 5 glowing reviews or 15 honest ones that were all over the board? I answered there, but then had some more thoughts.

First off, my personal preference is 15 honest reviews all over the board. Okay...my ego loves the glowing reviews. They make me think I'm the hottest writer since F. Scott Fitzgerald. They make me feel good and encourage me to keep writing.

But I also know that my particular kink in the sexual portions of my romances, tends not to be everyone's cup of tea. BDSM isn't for everyone. In fact, I have to admit a sort of perverse satisfaction to writing out of the mainstream. I like being different and on the edge (or is that fringe?). When I started at Ellora's Cave three years ago, there were only three BDSM books. Although BDSM is becoming much more popular as a separate genre (a fact that will push me in a different direction at some point), it still isn't for everyone.

Now, if a reviewer hasn't read much (or any!) romances with a BDSM twist and they pick up one of mine as their first attempt...then I deserve whatever they give me. THAT's an honest review. Either they'll love it or hate it. I'm afraid I've seen very little in the middle.

But if a reviewer has a pre-formed prejudice against BDSM? Then please, please, please! Don't bother reading (and trashing) my book! If you've formed an opinion before you've even cracked the spine of the book, then what's the point? Just to be mean? Just to lash out at a kink you don't like? THAT ticks me off. Those are the only reviews I ignore. If you don't like the genre, don't read it.

Of course, this begs the question: what's the difference between a review and a critique? Which would readers rather read?

Play safe,
Diana

I can't believe the RT Convention is just around the corner! Thought I'd post my schedule here so all who want to find me...can. I'm looking forward to meeting so many of you who are only email addresses to me at this point. Putting faces with names is so much more fun!

So...

Wednesday, May 17th

My flight gets into Daytona around 10:30 am, so I expect to have registered at the hotel, signed in at the conference, put out promo stuff on Promotion Lane and still make the luncheon with Waldenbooks at noon. Okay, so I like my dream world. Think positive!

The afternoon's schedule is a bit flimsy...figure whatever I didn't get to do before lunch, I'll do after. But at 9:00 at night...you know I'll be at the EC Fantasy Party! Best party of the week! There will be cover models (of course), fun prizes (anyone here as into scrapbooking as I am? I'm supplying one of the doorprizes: a craft carrier filled with scrapbooking supplies...and one of my books, of course!). I expect this day may last into the next...

Thursday, May 18th

10:00 am -- Sorry, I'll be unavailable for a little while this morning...I'll be attending EC's business meeting. But when we're done, I hope to have some juicy news for everyone! Stay tuned...I'll be blogging from the convention floor (if they have wireless) and from my room (if they don't).

But by 3:00...catch me at Club RT (formerly the Hospitality Suite). Stop by and chat...enter to win another great gift...don't leave me at my table all by myself!

And of course, that night is the Vampires of the Caribbean party...watch out for those fangs!

Friday, May 19th

I'll be in Club RT earlier today...11:00 am. Just late enough to allow me to sleep in a bit (I think I may need to!). I should mention I'll be hanging out at the Club quite a bit beyond my scheduled times. Not sure if EC will have a separate table again this year, but if they do, I'll be there as well. Be sure to stop by!

Now in between all these parties, there IS work to be done...workshops to attend, people to meet, Promotion Lane to restock. So if you see me in the halls, or on the elevator, be sure to stop and say hey!

Saturday, May 20th

The big Booklover's Convention. Three hundred romance writers in one huge room. Ah, the madness! The rush! The wonder! If you've never been, it's quite the experience. Theoretically, authors are arranged alphabetically, but I've never seen it completely accurate. So look around...I'll be there, pen in hand and ready to sign. It opens at 10:30 for registered conference attendees and at 11:00 opens to the public. We're there till 3:00 pm...and I love the hustle, bustle and general chaos. Bring me a waterbottle and I'll love you forever!

Sunday, May 21st

Alas, all good things must draw to an end. My flight for home leaves Daytona around 10:00 am...so I'll be up and out early this morning, with memories and smiles...and lots and lots of books collected over the week.

So, I hope to see you there...till then,

Play safe!
Diana

I'd like to send out a special thank you to two great writing pals, Ruby Storm and Ruth Kerce. We were put together two years ago to write a Valentine's Day anthology for Ellora's Cave. Up until that point, we had never had a conversation with each other, let alone written together.

But Fate, God or Inspiration was at work the day EC assigned the three of us to work together. Writing Diamond Studs with them was tremendous fun...and the contests we've held together (mostly designed by Ruth...I just ride her technological coattails) set new records for entries.

Because we had so much fun the first time around, we're writing stories together again. Winter Studs will be our next endeavor and although each story will be released in ebook form separately (as it stands now), the print stories will be bound together in one volume for release later.

So why the thank you to Ruth and Ruby? Over the past two years we've become great online friends. Although I've met Ruby only twice and Ruth not at all in person, I count the two as special friends and just needed to let them know their support and encouragement is appreciated. So Ruth and Ruby...listen up, Stud-dettes! {{{{Hugs}}} and thank you!

And if you haven't read any of their work? Head on over to their sites and take a peek...you'll be glad you did!

Ruby Storm Ruth D. Kerce

Play safe,
Diana

I feel so much like I've been spinning my wheels these past few months when it comes to writing stories. So many started...and so few finished. The story for Lady Jaided had the first deadline, but it took three starts to find the one that stuck. The story for WINTER STUDS ... a new anthology of STUD stories from Ruby Storm, Ruth Kerce and me is now half done (and is supposed to be submitted by March 31st...sigh). I have so many started, I finally wrote them down:

Frankenstein's Captain (formerly the "Lady Jaided story"-- now complete and actually in my editor's in-box!)

12 Days of Christmas (a semi-whimsical/semi-serious look at bondage throughout the last 2 1/2 centuries, tracing bondage toys passed from generation to generation, each chapter a new generation and a new addition to the collection. I got to day four and realized it's going to be HUGE...a plus novel for sure!)

The Smith Opera House Mysteries (murder-mystery type with romance aplenty. Set in the Smith Opera House in Geneva, NY, taking full advantage of my love of theatre. I've performed on that stage a few times and it's the perfect setting for ghosts, murder...and love. One of the stories is almost half done, the other just started. Will be at least two books. If I ever get the time to write them!)

A Devil of a Winter (for the WINTER STUDS anthology...is half done).

Those are the ones I've been working on since October. So when I look back, I can see I've been busy. But since so little is actually finished...I'm a bit frustrated. And that's not even including other stories I've got floating around in limbo:

New York Oasis (originally written for EC's 2006 anthology series, now under consideration as an independent novella. Finished, but needs massive rewrites as I'm rethinking the characters somewhat)

Diamond Heat (actually, my first attempt for the DIAMOND STUDS anth. but I like it and would like to get back to it someday)

and a bunch of others not far enough along to be considered. Can you blame me? I think I've enough above to deal with. The others will just have to wait their turns! LOL

So if you want to know what's coming from the pen of Diana Hunter? One, some or all of the above!

Off to write (Devil in Winter has my attention at the moment...)

Play safe,
Diana

Oh, my glory, you have GOT to be kidding! I found this site today and cannot believe my eyes. Not sure whether to laugh, cry...or be insulted. It's disturbing on so many levels, I'm not even sure where to begin! And yet, it provided me with a good belly-laugh...something I sorely needed.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Diana, who should spend more time writing and less time surfing!