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[Books] [Coming Soon] [Contests] [Free Stuff] [Links] [Meet Mary] [Newsletter] [New Releases] [Podcasts] [Home] |
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AppearancesCheck out my chat loop and publisher loops! Nothing "officially" scheduled. Other InfoBooks available from Changeling Press Books available from Ellora's Cave Books available from Samhain Publishing To subscribe to my monthly newsletter please send an email or visit my newsletter page for alternative methods of joining. To subscribe to my chat loop please send an email or visit the group site.
Reviews"The storyline was pure reading heaven..." - Talia Ricci, Joyfully Reviewed, for Riding Partner "This
novella is an erotic romance and delivers on both counts - it is quite romantic
and is full of some hot bed play." Marina, Cupid's Library Reviews for Revealing
Photos " UNDER HER SKIN is so much more than a wonderful romance, it’s
a lesson in love and acceptance. It is an experience not to be missed."
Recent Posts
Writing Wednesday: Scruff your inner editor Sexy Feet - Some Thoughts on Cover Art Writing Without Distractions Writing Wednesday: Is it really work? Marketing Monday: Code Everything You Send Finding Your Bliss...Bears? Writing Wednesday: Writer's Organizations Make A Difference Monday: Get out of the Box My March 2008 newsletter is out! New Release - Mission: Carnal (Live Action Hero 1)
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Five angels from FAR for Juli’s Choice! "Within the first few pages of Juli’s Choice, this reader was pleased to find a passionate woman with a wonderful personality. Juli’s struggles with her fiancé expectations and the instantaneous attraction she has to Riley; all the while dealing with her desire to have her own horse rescue farm. She offers a realistic character that has found something she wants just a little more than the picture perfect life she was heading towards. The character of Riley offers a nice distraction for Juli. He is a man that goes after what he wants full steam, an explosive lover, and a gentlemen. Mary Winter has written a beautiful story. 5 Angels!" Reviewed by Shayley -- http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2006/January/Shayley-JulisChoice.htm BUY THE BOOK: http://www.venuspress.com/catalog/books/julischoice.htm And the fun isn’t over…. Five more angels from FAR for Money Man! "Mary Winter’s instantly grabs the attention of the reader with two characters that are passionate about their jobs and overwhelmed with desire for one another. Within the first few pages of Money Man, I was introduced to an independent, charismatic, yet compassionate woman: all of which make a wonderful personality. Devon has the means to get what he wants money wise but has a genuinely good-nature and personality that will leave readers falling in love with him. What a couple! The chemistry between Sadie and Devon is explosive and tender at the same time. Mary Winter has earned herself 5 Angels for this beautiful romance! " Reviewed by Shayley http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2006/January/Shayley-MoneyMan.htm BUY THE BOOK: http://www.venuspress.com/catalog/books/moneyman.htm I am so walking on air right now. What awesome reviews for two great books. And what's even better is that Juli makes a cameo appearance in Money Man.  
This post ties into my previous ones about penetration in a sex scene. When do the hero and heroine discuss protection? I just finished a book, which shall not be mentioned to protect the horribly guilty and awful, where the heroine is supposed to be a hip, urban chick. Yet not once in the entire book (and it's a long one), is protection or the lack thereof or the consequences mentioned. And since the book was a time-travel, there would be many consequences. Say like dying of syphillis or the clap or something. It totally ruined the book. I don't want to be a slave to the condom, but still, there has to be some mention of what happens when a man and a woman have sex without protection. Especially if the book is a contemporary or has contemporary characters. As a reader this issue bugs me! As an author, I think it is irresponsible. I read romance novels at the tender age of 12. I am quite lucky that my mom, an RN, was also a Red Cross approved AIDS educator. I knew the facts long before I wanted to, which came in handy in writing those romance novels back in jr. high and high school. *wink!* But many other young women aren't as lucky as I and might only get their facts from a book. Television certainly doesn't cover the condom issue, though the consequences of not using one are the subjects of countless dramas. I also like to read, and write, fantasy and science fiction. If a book is set in the future, I expect two things. 1) Birth control has to be mentioned. Why? Look at us now. We're dealing with global overpopulation. It isn't going to get any better unless, say, a meteor hits earth, and we're all starting over. In which case birth control is going to be mentioned probably from the standpoint of having to be fruitful and multiplying. 2) It damn well better be better than what we have today. This would be a rant in and of itself about today's birth control, and well, would probably also include way to much TMI. Suffice to say, I hope for the sake of women in the future, it's much better. When writing fantasy, I prefer to take the easy way out and have my heroine know herbal lore to keep her child free and disease free. I still like to have something mentioned. And yeah, you can probably quote places in my books where I didn't, but it's a subject, after having read this book, I'll be thinking about. As a reader -- what do you think? Mention it or don't. Is it an issue that will make you hurl a book at the wall and wish you hadn't spent your money? Or does it not bother you? Curious minds want to know. . .
You drive through snow, sleet, then rain in the course of mabye 2 1/2 hours. :) I'm coming to you live from Overland Park, KS in a really nice hotel that has an even nicer price (always pays to look online). I'll be getting reiki training, which uses ancient Japanese methods for stress reduction and relaxation. (For more info visit http://www.reiki.org) It also can be used for healing. Anyway, so last night I called a good friend to see what the weather people were saying -- not much more than they were saying this morning. So after rustling out of bed and kissing the kitties good-bye, we headed on the road. All was clear until we crossed the Iowa/Missouri border. Then it started to snow. Then sleet...then rain...then sleet...then snow....then rain again, until by the time we got to the Kansas City area, it wasn't doing anything. The weather junkie that I am, well, although I was in the driver's seat and trying not to panic (that's me, Miss worry-wort and Miss Panic Chick (see note above about learning stress reduction techniques, LOL!!!)), I thought it was fascinating. I'd also like to note that we have YET to come down to Missouri without it doing something weather wise. Sigh!!! That's the joy of the midwest. :) Hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.
I just finished reading another short contemporary romance where you can't tell when penetration happens! As a reader, this is the number one thing which will make me throw your book across the room and then promply sell it on ebay. Why is this a pet peeve of mine? Well, let me tell you! 1) I grew up reading Silhouette Desires. I read them from a tender, preteen age. My mom is a nurse, so I knew clinically about the birds and the bees, and reading those novels helped me craft my own stories. (When mom read my first written novel in high school, she was like "you sure you don't have a boyfriend?" LOL!!!). In today's modern society, sex is a given. We see it on television (soap operas anyone?), and although you can't show the "money shot" on anything but late night Cinemax or adult channels, it's fairly obvious what's going on beneath the covers. Times have changed a lot since the early 90's, which was when I started reading romance novels. Story lines have gotten hotter. We've watched erotic romance take off, and the tone of those Silhouette Desires has changed. Some of them are quite spicy, and yet there are still authors who are out there using purple prose for their sex scenes. 2) If you don't want to write a sex scene -- don't! One of the greatest things about today's romance market is that there is literally a book for everyone! Inspirationals, sweet, traditional, romantic suspense, multi-cultural, erotic, bdsm, fantasy, paranormal, you name it and there's a romance sub-genre for it. So if you don't want to right more than a chaste kiss, or even a sloppy kiss, that's all you have to write. Is the market there? No, but why write for a line of books you're not happy or comforable writing for? Frankly, if you don't like what you're writing, get out of the way to make room for those of us who love what we do. There's plenty of room for everyone. 3) As a reader, I expect certain things out of the romance novels I read. Now I'll be honest and admit that my reading tastes tend to run toward the hotter. When I pick up one of those category romances with a red cover, I have expectations. And I'm more forgiving, for example, if I'm reading a Silhouette Desire than a Harlequin Blaze. And yes, I've read Blaze novels where you couldn't tell what was happening or when the big moment happened. To be fair, the book that prompted this rant had a pink cover, but still. (not only that, to follow up the non-penetration sex scene several chapters later with the sentence ... "And she remembered they had made love every night." Um, if your characters are that horny, then SHOW IT! Which brings me to my next point 4) Sex is a vital part of characterization. Whether or not the big moment happens does make a difference, and not because it's more fun to read the hot stuff. What the characters feel during the sex act (emotionally), how far each character takes it, these are all issues that need to be addressed. Each sex scene should do something other than take up space on the page. Especially if you're looking at a new couple or their first consumated sex scene. So please. As a reader, don't make me throw your book against the wall. I love to write book reviews, but I won't review a book that totally sucked! Please make me review your book so I can tell everyone how wonderfully emotionally engaging the love story was, and how hot the sex scenes were. Don't dance around the sex issue. Either let the characters have it, or don't. But don't leave the reader guessing.
Just released from Venus Press....... Money Man Sadie worked full time to put herself through vet school, and when Dr. Kirkpatrick retired, she longed to buy out his half of the practice. Only financially, she couldn't afford it. But Devon Markier III could. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he has had everything handed to him. Everything, except the woman he wants. He has looks, charm, and brains. What more could a woman want? It's going to take more than money to convince Sadie that Devon’s the man for her, and he'll do anything to show her he's more than just a money man. For an excerpt or to purchase visit: http://www.venuspress.com/catalog/books/moneyman.htm
Happy New Year to everyone! The January issue of my newsletter has hit mailboxes. I'm gearing up for Wednesday's release of Money Man, the launch title for Venus Press' "Mystical Signs" series. This story deals with my favorite sign -- Capricorn. And the book release will be an early birthday present for me. Well, much to my regret, I couldn't find hot pictures of Alessandro Juliani or Aaron Douglas online, so alas, the last two hotties from Battlestar Galactica will not get their day on my blog. (sob! sob!) But, you can watch the new season of BSG start up this month on the SciFi channel and drool right along with me. Will have to find more hotties for you. ;) I'm busy writing along. Take care!
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