Showing posts with label katie salidas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label katie salidas. Show all posts

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Sexy Cedric Reviews Submission Therapy


Greetings, my darlings!  I hope you're having a sexy Saturday. Here is a little something that might make "sleeping in" a bit more enjoyable.




Submission Therapy by Katie Salidas and Willsin Rowe is a naughty vignette for those who enjoy a little B&D with their erotica. 

Natasha is a high-powered, billionaire executive, who is wound just a bit too tight. No amount of therapy has been able to cure her stress or sex-addiction. When her therapist recommends a more radical approach, Natasha reluctantly finds herself at the mercy of the powerfully persuasive Master Sweet. His bedside manner is hardly gentle, but when he gives Natasha a dose of her own medicine, she finds herself eagerly responding to his course of treatment and begging for more. 

The book is just the right length to make for a steamy bedtime tale and Master Sweet delivers the precise amount of wallop (to another sort of tail) that the reader craves.  Read it alone under the covers or with a special someone to initiate a little adult playtime. Either way, you’ll find it was just what the doctor ordered.   








Amazon.co.uk

All Romance Ebooks

Smashwords.com

Excessica


Until next time,
Love and dark kisses,

Cedric MacKinnon



Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sexy Cedric Spotlights a Kinky New Release/Excerpt from Submission Therapy



Greetings, my darlings! I hope you survived Halloween without any blood loss.  I did.  If you, like Sexy Cedric, are of an experimental nature, here is something to set your pulses racing!




SUBMISSION THERAPY

Billionaire CEO of Blakely Incorporated, Natasha runs her empire with an eagle eye for every detail. She’s an obsessive, compulsive, micromanaging hard-ass, consumed by the need to control every aspect of her life and her business.
But underneath that seemingly strong façade, Natasha is a swirling mess of anger, anxiety and sexual addiction. Only her therapist, Dr. Benson, knows how close she is to burning out...or exploding. He insists on a radical form of treatment – Submission Therapy – knowing that it’s her only hope.

Skeptical but intrigued, Natasha agrees to attend the first session. What she finds there is an erotically-charged environment that will forgive none of her habitual bad behavior. And a steely-eyed man who seems to read her every desire - even the ones she won’t admit to herself.

Will Natasha learn what it means to submit? Or will she allow her brittle pride to rob her of what she truly needs?


Warnings: This title contains graphic language, sexual situations, bondage, discipline, rudeness, and a twist on the billionaire genre.



Submission Therapy
EXCERPT:
© November 2012 by Willsin Rowe and Katie Salidas

“If your spirit is the equal of your body...” He ran his fingers across my shoulders and down the gully of my spine. “...then it will be a rare pleasure breaking you in.”
Despite my initial apprehension, his words and his touch sent a thrill through me.
He moved from behind me and my back suddenly felt cold. I watched his muscular form as he prowled to the chair, and admired his grace as he mounted it.
“Bind her. Bring her to me.”
Chloe appeared beside me with a length of smooth rope in her hands. My instincts cried out to run, to fight, but I bit down on them. I could see where this was heading and…and I wasn’t sure I hated it.
With practiced efficiency, Chloe had my wrists secured in under a minute. She led me over to Master Sweet and handed him the loose end of rope.
“Slave, lay across my lap.”
I couldn’t help it. I hesitated. This was so new to me. He curled the rope around his wrist and pulled steadily, with a strength I couldn’t resist. With Chloe’s help he had me prone across his lap, my bare ass angled out and vulnerable. My heartbeat sped with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Even though there was something so degrading about being put over someone’s lap, there was a part of me that found it...invigorating. I wasn’t about to let him know I felt that way, though. I held my tongue and watched blankly as Chloe worked, binding me in place.
She took the rope and fed it through the eyelet at the base of the chair, leading it underneath and through a matching eyelet on the other side. She walked around and crouched behind me. From my angle I could only see her hands taking the rope, but I could sense her body heat on the backs of my thighs, feel her breath tickling across my ass…and everywhere else. I wondered if she was there to do more than just tie knots.
The rope’s firm grip around my right knee took me out of that reverie. I watched as Chloe fed the rope back through the loop and then around my left knee. I understood the chair’s construction much better now. Looped around it, with Master Sweet’s strong legs as a cushion, I had nowhere to go. Intriguingly, there was still enough slack in the rope that I could spread my knees apart.
“Look in the mirror.”
I raised my head and stared. I barely recognized myself. In the low light, my black hair almost blended with the room. I could see enough to know it was a mess, though.
He slipped his hand onto my ass and rested it there, soft, unmoving. The deceptively light touch sent chills rippling across my body.
“You’ve earned a spanking for your disobedience. You will watch as your punishment is delivered, and you will count the strokes.”
My breath hitched in my chest. Spanking. I hadn’t had one of those since I was a little girl. So demeaning, and yet the thought of it sent heat rushing between my thighs. There was a part of me that longed for it. In a world where I constantly had to think at least six to twelve months ahead, a consequence that was both immediate and tangible somehow felt like a luxury.
He raised his hand, cocked it like a gun. I followed the movement instinctively, admiring the pure power of it, knowing full well that its force was about to come crashing down on me.
“No. Look into your own eyes.”
I did as instructed. My mouth hung open as I tried to catch my breath, which had begun racing. I clenched my muscles and squeezed my thighs together, waiting for what came next.
The blow, when it landed, cracked like a pistol shot. For the slightest instant all I felt was the jolt through my body. My vision blurred with the impact. Then the sting bloomed on my ass and began to tingle. I watched my own mouth stretch, listened as my breath hissed in. I would not cry out.
“Count it!” he demanded.



Get your copy today!




Amazon.co.uk

All Romance Ebooks

Smashwords.com

Excessica

Stop by next week for my review!

Love and dark Kisses,

Cedric MacKinnon




Saturday, October 13, 2012

Sexy Cedric Interviews Fallon from Moonlight/Halloween Ebook Giveaway

Welcome back guys and ghouls!  Your Sexy Cedric has another yummy guest for you to sample today.

We're just about halfway to Halloween, and we have lots of giveaways still active until the end of the month.  Make sure you scroll down through the posts to enter them!  You can win ebooks and paperbacks, as well as a Halloween Gift Basket!


Giveaway:  Leave a comment to be entered to win an ebook of Moonlight by Katie Salidas.  Contest ends at 11 p.m. EST on 10/31/12.  Winners will be announced on 11/1/12.  Please leave a contact email.  You are also invited to enter any of the active giveaways on this blog.  

Today, my guest is Fallon, the heroine of Moonlight by Katie Salidas.






Welcome to Sexy Saturday with Cedric, Fallon!  I do hope you’ll share a few spicy tidbits, my darling.  Settle into my hot seat of love.  Don’t worry--I never bite unless invited. 
Please introduce yourself and your friends to the readers.


Hey Cedric, thanks for having me here today. I’m honored, really, but you can put those fangs away. I’m not into biting.
I know what you’re thinking, best friend is a vampire and yet I am still creeped out by fangs. I don’t think I’ll really ever get over it. But, as long as you don’t try to steal a pint of the old 0-negative, we’re good.

Fallon, I must say, I’m not usually into humans—unless they are David Bowie, but you, my dear, are quite the delicious little tidbit.  Why don’t you share a little about your vital statistics?  What makes you such a mouth-watering object of desire? 

You really are a flirt, aren’t you? Alyssa warned me about your sweet talking. I guess I should have listened. Well, I wouldn’t go as far as saying I’m an object of desire for all men. I like to think of what I have as Nerd Chic! Brainy sex appeal. The only thing I’m missing is glasses and I’d have the complete package. In fact, that’s what Aiden (He’s my sexy wolfman) fell for first. He just loves that I know my way around a PC.

Tell me a little about yourself—don’t spare any juicy details.

Well, I’m originally from Vegas, but recently transplanted to Boston because of the whole Pandora’s Box fiasco. Hey, no one told me that box was cursed, and as a human I had no choice but to open it. That’s all in the past though. My family is all back home in Vegas, I’ve got a mother and brother back there. Dad died when I was young. Hmm, what else? Oh, I graduated from UNLV with my Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems. I wanted to go back and finish my masters, but, well, life happened. Or really, should I call that un-death? I’m not sure how vamps really “see” that whole immortality thing. Anyway, I’m getting off topic here.
Once we (Alyssa and the rest of the Peregrinus clan) hit Boston, I met my wolfman and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

Share a little of your fascinating world.  What is it like to “run with the pack”, so to speak?

 Oh, the pack… they’re great… now. They took a lot of convincing though to accept me. They have rules and ceremonies for everything. I’m still learning the ropes there. Being the “mate” of the Alpha, means not only knowing the rules, but living them and setting an example. It’s been a hard transition, but I do enjoy the monthly moonlight revelries. Those parties are awesome. You should come sometime. We’re a very vampire friendly pack. Just one rule, no drinking blood on our lands. If you need to feed, take it somewhere else.  There are many human relatives among the pack and we have to ensure their safety. 

What are some of the unique challenges that face you and your furry friends? 

Being a mixed pack, we are very supernatural friendly in the Olde Town, we have a lot of “community” issues. If the vampires have trouble, it’s our trouble too. If the local witches have trouble… you get the idea. Some packs are very exclusive and don’t bother with the other supernaturals out there. Ours believes that we are all in the minority and need to use our collective special abilities to help each other out. While it sounds noble, and it is, it can be very troubling. Keeping so many supernaturals under the radar from the Acta Sanctorum is no easy feat.

Alright, the burning question--how do you feel about vampires?

I’m totally cool with vamps. I mean, my best friend is one, I’ve been living in a house full of vamps for moths, and my pack is allied with a vampire clan. I don’t have issues with you all as a species. I just get freaked out by the whole blood drinking thing. I mean, you have no choice, right? So I can’t really fault you for it. But it does give me the heebie jeebies.

What do you look for in your ideal partner?  Is the fur coat optional or does a smooth-as-marble Scottish vampire lad have a chance?

There you go with that flirting again. You’re hot, don’t get me wrong, but I just can’t deal with the fangs. Sorry.
I really had never even entertained the idea of going supernatural. Until I met Aiden, I was content with ordinary men. I guess, the universe had other ideas for me. Though I have to say it… Once you go wolf, you can never, ever go back!

I’ve had my share of tumultuous relationships, but I must admit, I prefer those that present a challenge, like my darling Mia, or Lord Liu.  Do you like someone who lets you take the lead, or do you like strong-minded lovers? 

Being mated to the Alpha of the Olde Town pack should say it all. He’s a born leader and that is such a sexy quality. A leader isn’t just someone who rules with an iron paw. He does that well enough, but it’s the caring and compassion he brings to the title that really amps up the attractiveness. He’s fair and just and kind all wrapped up in a warm fur coat.
That said, he also knows when to roll over and let me take the lead when I’m feeling like exerting a little dominance… if you know what I mean.


What is your idea of the perfect evening?  All great lovers have their trade secrets.  How you create the perfect romantic atmosphere?

The perfect evening? Is there such a thing. We carve out any alone time we can and make that special. The alpha’s work is never done, so we are usually pretty busy tending to pack business and the daily running and maintenance of the Wolf Preserve. For us, romance has been replaced by quickies… lots of them… what can I say, wolves are frisky, and I’m not complaining.
There was one night where we stepped out for a moonlight run. Aiden knows the forest like the back of his paw. He found us this nice little spot near the water. Just us and the crickets. The peacefulness of it was divine.

Well, who is that lurking in the background?  Mmm…I like the looks of him.  Any friend of yours is a friend of mine.  So, are you and that strapping bloke with the growl up for a threesome?  I mean the good kind—him, you and me?

Even if Aiden were willing, I don’t share. Never learned that skill in Kindergarten. But, seeing as he’s here, that must mean it’s time for me to head out. Like I said, the Alpha’s job is never done!

Too Bad, it would have been divine.

Thanks so much for having me here today. Be sure to read our story, Moonlight. 

My authoress, Ms. Verrico, wrote a review of Moonlight.  Be sure to read it and grab a copy of this steamy and exciting book!






Moonlight
Good girls don’t wear fur, or fight over men, and they certainly don’t run around naked, howling at the moon.

But then, no-one ever called Fallon a good girl.

As a human unofficially mated to an Alpha werewolf, Fallon is being pressured to “become”...or be gone.

Her mate Aiden, the interim leader of the Olde Town Pack, is in a position that demands he either choose a wolf mate...or leave the pack forever. No matter how hot the sex with Fallon is, he can’t ignore centuries of tradition.

Become a wolf or not. If only the choice were that simple. Fallon’s options are further clouded by the overt presence of other females desperate to be the Alpha’s mate. And when these bitches get serious, it’s not just claws that come out. If Fallon wants to keep her man and take the title she’ll have to exert a little dominance of her own.


Buy Links:
Kindle USA 






Excerpt  from Moonlight

Copyright © 2012 by Katie Salidas 
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. 


Someone knocked on the door, a soft almost tapping sound. It was my turn to growl, only this time it was out of frustration. I wasn’t ready to end our moment.
“I’m busy.” Aiden shouted to the door.
“Sorry, boss.” Diana said. “Micah is here and the rest of the council are meeting in the conference room.”
“Bad timing,” I grumbled.
“We’ll have to continue this later.” Aiden’s shoulders sagged.
 “Do you want me to join you in council?”
“No. I need to give them the good news though. That should get them off my back. For now, you get that sexy ass into a shower and be ready for me to ravage you again later.” He stood and retrieved his boxers and pants.
“Is that all I am to you?” I joked as I sat up on the desk.  “Your little play thing.”
“No, that’s just one of the perks.” He stole one last kiss and headed for the door. “I won’t be long. I promise.”
“You better not.”
He walked out, passed Diana and headed down the hallway. She stood in the doorway and once Aiden had walked out of sight turned to me and sneered. I sat proudly on top of Aiden’s desk, naked from the waist down, and crossed my legs.
“You think you’re untouchable, don’t you?” Diana spat at me.
“You’re treading a very thin line, lady.”
“Tough words for a human. I could shred you right here.”
“So do it. What are you waiting for? Oh, right… Aiden would have your head for that.”
“Accidents happen.” An evil glint shone in her eye and a smile spread across her face.
I wasn’t going to let her scare me. I glared back at her.  “They do, don’t they? I’d feel terrible if my fist just accidentally found your face. Cut the crap. You don’t want me for an enemy.” As soon as I became Female Alpha, I planned to make her life hell.
“Why, because your fucking the boss?” She rolled her eyes. “Oh yes, I heard. Half the pack heard you. You’re quite the little slut, aren’t you? Just walking into the boss’s office and screwing him as loud as you can for all to hear. Bet you feel like you’re something hot, don’t you?”
I folded my arms in front of me.
“Lemme tell you a little secret. No one wants a human mating with the Alpha. The council won’t allow it, and I won’t stand for it.”
I smiled. “Well that’s just fine by me. I won’t remain a human for long.”
She scoffed. “Not everyone survives the transition. There are ways to swing the odds either way.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Why? Are you scared?” She sashayed toward me. Her smug expression sent my blood boiling.
I gritted my teeth to stop me from saying anything else. I knew what she was doing, trying to get me to snap and she was dangerously close. I was no match for her yet, so I couldn’t challenge her to a fight, but once I transitioned, she would slowly and painfully eat every last word.
“I’m going to tell you one last time.” Her voice went deadly quiet.  “Leave Aiden and this pack… for your own safety.”
I couldn’t help the shiver of fear that threatened to reveal itself. I turned away hoping to keep it hidden and give off the vibe that she was not worth my attention. “Get it through your head. Aiden and I are already mates,” I said with as much conviction as I could muster.
“You’ll never be his true mate.”
Something slammed hard into the back of my head. Before I could register the pain the world went dark and I felt myself freefalling into nothingness.

A very big thanks to Fallon for joining me today!  You can follow her authoress, Katie Salidas at these links:
Facebook
http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Remember, leave a comment for Fallon to be entered to win her story!  Don't forget to stop back on Monday, when Bertena Varney, Vampire Professor will Ms. Verrico's guest.

Until next time,

Love and Dark Kisses,

Cedric MacKinnon

Your Host with the Most: Cedric MacKinnon


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Sexy Cedric:  Steam up your autumn nights with a howling-good read!



Greetings my darlings!  Happy autumnal equinox to my pagan friends!  Now that autumn is here, your naughty boy is back with something to help take the chill out of these longer nights.  Something with warm, silky fur and delicious sharp fangs.  No, it's not this playful tiger.  This sort of beastie howls and scratches when the moon turns full.  Okay, I've done my share of that for a vampire.


So, let me turn the spotlight on a sexy new confection from the always delightful, Katie Salidas.


Good girls don’t wear fur, or fight over men, and they certainly don’t run around naked, howling at the moon.

But then, no-one ever called Fallon a good girl.

As a human unofficially mated to an Alpha werewolf, Fallon is being pressured to “become”...or be gone.

Her mate Aiden, the interim leader of the Olde Town Pack, is in a position that demands he either choose a wolf mate...or leave the pack forever. No matter how hot the sex with Fallon is, he can’t ignore centuries of tradition.

Become a wolf or not. If only the choice were that simple. Fallon’s options are further clouded by the overt presence of other females desperate to be the Alpha’s mate. And when these bitches get serious, it’s not just claws that come out. If Fallon wants to keep her man and take the title she’ll have to exert a little dominance of her own.

You can read Ms. Verrico's review here.

I like the sexy blonde, Fallon, on the cover.  In fact, she'll be here in the coming weeks to talk with me...and hopefully more.

You can learn more about Moonlight and follow Katie Salidas at these links:


Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkins off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons.  She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.  And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…
Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

Monthly Giveaway!
This month, I'm giving away an author-signed mini poster of the Annals of the Immortyls cover.  Please leave a contact e-mail and comment to enter! I'll also add a personal message and surprise gift!



That's all for today, my loves!  The authoress is at the Horror Realms convention in Pittsburgh, PA, and she needs me to make the party lively.

So until next time,

Love and Dark Kisses from your sexy Scotsman,


Follow me on Twitter!

Your Host with the Most
Cedric MacKinnon
Adept of the Ancient Arts

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Werewolves and Love Bites, a Review of Moonlight by Katie Salidas


Review 
Moonlight
A Novella by Katie Salidas






Moonlight by Katie Salidas is a companion novella set in the world of the Immortalis urban fantasy novels.  In this spin-off, the story centers on Fallon, the loyal friend of Alyssa, the vampire heroine in the novel series. 

Fallon, girlfriend of werewolf alpha, Aiden, finds herself smack dab in the middle of a power struggle that not only threatens her relationship with her lover, but her very life.  Learning that Aiden’s pack will not accept her as his mate unless she makes the transition from human to werewolf, Fallon is faced by a momentous decision: Should she risk her life to run at the side of her alpha wolf lover, or retain her humanity and give him up?  Add to that the rivalry of Diana, a female in the pack, who has a personal vendetta against Fallon, and a delicate web of pack politics that the still-human Fallon must negotiate. 

I found the novella a quick and enjoyable read, just the sort of thing for curling up by the fireplace on a chilly autumn night.  Romance fans will be appreciative of the heat generated by Fallon and Aiden, and urban fantasy fans will enjoy the paranormal elements that Salidas skillfully weaves through the tale.  The werewolf sequences are interesting and exciting, and we see a nice growth arc in Fallon’s character, from gal pal sidekick of vampire Alyssa to savvy leading-lady of her own saga.

So, pour yourself a nice glass of wine, light the fire and hope that your mate will be there to reap the benefits when you’re finished with this steamy and satisfying read.






This Saturday, Sexy Cedric will be back with an excerpt and more on Moonlight!  

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Sexy Cedric Interviews Alyssa from Soulstone by Katie Salidas/Giveaway


Today, my darlings, I have a very special guest! A female vampire, who has won my admiration with her feats of courage in her most recent adventure, Soulstone. Following the interview, there is a review by my authoress, Ms. Verrico.  We also have a giveaway of an ebook of Soulstone and this blog's monthly giveaway of an ebook of my latest adventure, Servant of the Goddess.  That's two vampire tale contest entries for one comment on this post! Winners will be chosen by random drawing.


Soulstone drawing ends 5/17/12 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Servant of the Goddess ends 5/31/12 11:59 p.m. EST






Welcome to Sexy Saturday with Cedric!  Today, I’m very pleased and may I say excited to have a female guest for a change of pace, but as a servant of a powerful Goddess, I do like strong, sexy women.  My darling, I do hope you’ll share a few spicy tidbits.  Settle into my hot seat of love.  Don’t worry--I never bite unless invited. 

Please introduce yourself to the readers.

Hey there Cedric, and of course all of the readers out there! I feel a little like a star right now. All eyes on me. A girl could get used to this! Well, let me start simply. I’m Alyssa, but my close friends call me Lyss. I’m a vampire and I love, love, love it. Of course, I didn’t always love it, but now I can’t remember what life was like before I became a creature of the night.


I see a most lovely vision before me, but why don’t you share a little about your vital statistics with the readers?  What makes you such a mouth-watering object of desire?

Oh Cedric, you are a naughty one aren’t you. Don’t let Lysander hear you talking to me like that, he might get jealous. On second thought, do. It’s fun to rile him up sometimes. But seriously, if I had to pick one thing that really mesmerizes the opposite sex, it’s my eyes. Now, when I was human they were green. Very pretty, but normal. Becoming a vamp though has turned them icy blue. Couple that with my dark auburn hair and you have a contrast that’s just too hard to resist. I dare you to try and avoid looking me in the eyes. 


We could be a matching set, of course my eyes remained green after the change, jade green, like this dragon talisman around my neck that Lord Liu gave me.  Tell me a little about yourself—don’t spare any juicy details.  How did a nice girl like you become such a femme fatale?

Pure accident, I assure you. It was one of those “right place at the wrong time” kind of things. Lysander saved me … and who wouldn’t want to be saved by that man? He’s like the statue of David come to life… What can I say? I’m head over heels for the old man. But you wanted to talk about me. So the story is, I was walking home late one night and (cringe) ran into some really bad guys. They pretty much beat the hell out of me and would have killed me. Then my knight in bloody armor showed up and gave them a taste of their own medicine and me a taste for blood. The rest is history.

You’re a vampire, like me.  Answer the all-important questions: Sparkling on non-sparkling?  Human blood or substitute?  Coffins?  Sunlight?  Special powers?

Sparkling… Uh, no! Not unless I douse myself in glitter. Ha ha. But that gives me an idea for later… Hmmmm.

Anyway, I’m an O positive kind of girl. It’s the real thing, or nothing for me. I tried animals once and it wasn’t for me. My preference, criminals. And the worse crimes they commit, the better they taste to me. Sorry, I hope that doesn’t offend your readers. I forget sometimes that humans get all squeamish when you discuss blood around them. *shrug* It’s my way of life though. Blood drinking comes with the curse (if you want to call it that.) that and the whole sunburn issue. I really hate sunlight, I mean really. It’s just too painful. But I’m sure you know what that’s like. We all have our issues.

I'm strictly a human blood kind of boy myself, but I generally take it bottled.  Too much trouble with the Feds otherwise.  What are some of the unique challenges that face you and your friends?  Do you have an arch enemy?

I can’t talk too much about them right now. I don’t want word getting out of our plans, but the Acta Sanctorum are on the hit list. Me, my clan, and our friends in the Olde Town pack are planning to hunt down and destroy that fanatical bunch of religious nutjobs. We’d have let bygones be bygones but they just keep trying to destroy us, so now they can have a taste of their own medicine.

Do you defer to authority, or are you a take-charge sort of girl?

Well, if I agree with the authority, I defer to them. Problem is I don’t always agree. I think sometimes the “authority” is too cautious. But if you ask anyone else in my clan they would probably tell you I’m just a troublemaker and love to go out of my way to cause problems. *shrug* I am who I am, that’s all I can say.

Yeah, they say the same thing about me sometimes, but someone has to get things done.  Are you a one-man woman or do you play the field a bit? 

Lysander is my man, now and forever. I’d go through hell for him.

What do you look for in your ideal partner?  I’ve had my share of tumultuous relationships, but I must admit, I prefer those that present a challenge.  Do you like someone who lets you take the lead, or do you like strong-minded lovers?  Does a naughty Scottish lad have a chance?

Sorry Cedric, you’re tempting, but I’m a one man kinda girl. Lysander is the mate I need. He challenges me, but also helps to balance me out as well. He’s not afraid to yank me down off of my high horse when I’m too full of myself, and he’s there to pick me up when I need a little help. He knows all of my faults and loves me for them, but also makes me want to be a better vampire and have less faults. He’s my soulmate.

Look at me getting all mushy over here. Yeah, I do love that man of mine!  

I admire your fidelity.  Not many pass on the chance to shag a celebrated adept of the ancient arts.  Your man is very lucky.  What is your idea of the perfect evening out?

This one time, Lysander and I took a stroll through the park in Boston. Winter was almost there. The air was crisp and cool. The stars were out; their twinkling reflected in the lake as we strolled around. It was just Lysander and I. We’d not had a single night alone since I’d been turned. The clan was always around. This night was just the two of us. We walked hand in hand, talked, and kissed under the moonlight. It was the most tender and romantic night we’d ever spent together. That was pure bliss.

They don’t all have to be sweet and simple nights like this, but with how hectic life is for me, sometimes that’s all it takes to find perfection. It’s the simple things.

I agree.  I do love the simple things as well: an elegant wardrobe, a silver Lamborghini and a discreet offshore bank account.  We don't want to be too ostentatious, do we?  Supposing the plan is to stay in.  All great lovers have their trade secrets.  How you create the perfect romantic atmosphere?  Don’t be afraid to spill a few juicy tidbits.

Now for a “nice” night inside, I’d have to start off with some sexy lingerie. I do love to dress for my man. There is something about the way his eyes sparkle when he sees me in something revealing. I think it has to do with the “old” man in him. He really appreciates a well packaged present. So, I like to dress for the occasion. Next, as I said before, we always have the clan around. So I need to separate us from them. As you’re well aware, our hearing is too good at times. So closing the bedroom door doesn’t always cut it. I like to drown out the extra noise with a little mood music. That helps to at least make it feel like we are alone. Once we’re alone… well, that’s between me and Lysander.


Anything else you’d like to share? 

You should come by the row house some time. I think I’ve got a friend for you. Zuri. She’s single and on the prowl, and if I do say so myself, she’s hot!

I’ll leave her number before I go.

But before I do that, I just wanted to say thanks for having me, and to your readers, I hope you’ll take a look at my stories. See for yourself if I’m really the troublemaker everyone says I am.

I will, but don't limit me to Zuri.  If you have any unattached male friends, I'm always game for that as well.  I rather fancy the looks of that Nicholas fellow.  Thanks for joining me today, Alyssa, and if you ever quarrel with Lysander and want to make him jealous, you know where to find me.

My darling readers, please take a look at the review and all the intriguing info my guest has provided, then read her delicious tales penned by the lovely Katie Salidas.


Love and Dark Kisses,


Cedric MacKinnon


Your Host with the Most!




Author Katie Salidas

Review of Soulstone

Denise Verrico

Katie Salidas has another winner in Soulstone, Immortalis #4.  I've been following the series since the beginning and have enjoyed seeing the heroine, Alyssa, grow from a somewhat naive girl into a strong and confident woman.  

In the previous book, Pandora's Box, the Peregrinus Clan had won a victory, but suffered some devastating losses.  Alyssa's lover and progenitor, Lysander, is left lying in a state between life and death, his soul imprisoned in a mysterious stone.  Being the spunky and faithful gal she is, Alyssa can't bear not to do something to help her man. With the aid of a witch, a former agent of her arch enemy Acta Santorum and a reluctant pack of werewolves, Alyssa and her clan set out to free Lysander's soul.  

The book is fast paced with healthy doses of humor and interesting action sequences, and I was excited to see Alyssa taking charge of the situation, despite her companions' trepidation.  An enjoyable read for vampire and urban fantasy fans!

Immortalis Series Book Trailer:

The Immortalis Series:

Becoming a vampire is easy. Living with the condition... that's the hard part. Join Alyssa as she stumbles through the world of the "Unnatural."

Book 1: Immortalis Carpe Noctem  - Rescued from a brutal mugging on the college campus of UNLV, 25 year old Alyssa is initiated into a frightening, eternally dark world she never knew existed. The world of the vampire. Stricken with cravings of blood, and forced leave behind all she knew, Alyssa struggles with the change. And Lysander, her sexy but aloof sire, is the only one who can help guide her. There's no turning back now. It's either, Carpe Noctem, or final death.

Book 2: Hunters & Prey -  Rule number one: humans and vampires don't co-exist. One is the hunter and one is the prey. Simple, right? Not for newly-turned vampire Alyssa. A surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum's most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the human friend she's missed more than anything. Now she has some explaining to do. However, that will have to wait. With the Acta Sanctorum hot on their heels, staying alive is more important than educating a human on the finer points of bloodlust.

Book 3: Pandora's Box -  After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she'd learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package - a Pandora's Box. Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it? When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.

Book 4: Soulstone -  It’s a desperate time for rookie vampire Alyssa, and her sanity is hanging by a slender thread. Her clan is still reeling from the monumental battle with Aniketos; a battle that claimed the body of Lysander, her sire and lover, and trapped his spirit in a mysterious crystal. A Soulstone. Unfortunately, no amount of magic has been able to release Lysander’s spirit, and the stone is starting to fade. Weeks of effort have proved futile. Her clan, the Peregrinus, have all but given up hope. Only Alyssa still believes her lover can be released. In despair, Alyssa begs the help of the local witch coven, and unwittingly exposes the supernaturals of Boston to unwanted attention from the Acta Sanctorum. The Saints converge on the city and begin their cleansing crusade to rid the world of all things “Unnatural.” In the middle of an all-out war, but no closer to a solution to the dying stone, Alyssa is left with an unenviable choice: save her mate, or save her clan.

All books are available online at:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Rising Sign Books – Publisher

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Katie Salidas on Go Publish Yourself/Review and Giveaway

Today, I welcome Katie Salidas back to Immortyl Revolution.  She's currently on her Virtual Book Tour.  I've been following Katie's career since the publication of her first novel, Immortalis Carpe Noctem.  She's the owner of Rising Sign Books and has been on before to talk about self-publishing. 
Recently, she released a how-to book called
Go Publish Yourself!.

Contest: Two ways to win!
1. You can enter to win a ebook of Go Publish Yourself! To enter, leave a comment for Katie.  Deadline is 4/26/12, 11:59 p.m. Winner will be chose by random drawing. Please leave a contact email.
2. By leaving a comment for Katie, you'll also be entered in my monthly drawing.  This month's prize is an ebook (Nook, Kindle or PDF format) of my vampire novel, My Fearful Symmetry.  Deadline to enter is 11:59 p.m., 4/30/12.  Winner will be chosen by random drawing from all commenters at this blog throughout the month of April.  Please leave a contact email.



Review of Go Publish Yourself!

Go Publish Yourself! is a step-by-step, easy-to-read guide about the self-publishing process. Author Katie Salidas draws upon her experience of starting her own publishing company and offers not only a guide to putting together a polished product, but information on how to market it, something even a traditionally published author will find useful. The book encompasses everything from obtaining ISBN numbers to creating an attractive cover. There are sections on both bound and ebooks. Salidas also provides several useful links at the end of the book.


I like that the author stresses the importance of submitting a book to multiple critiques and hiring the services of a professional editor before publication. Right off the bat, she cautions that self-publishing isn’t likely to make one a millionaire and that creating and promoting a book takes a lot of effort. She also stresses that there is a financial investment and hard work involved in doing the job right, but if someone is willing to put in the work, it can be done. I would recommend this book to anyone researching the possibility of self-publishing.

Interview with Author Katie Salidas




What led you to form Rising Sign Books and self-publish?


KS: Publishing has been a dream of mine for a long time. When I originally looked to publish Immortalis Carpe Noctem, book one in the Immortalis series, I attempted the traditional route. The book, while well received was looked at as too late to reach the hot market. Vampires at that point (thanks to Twilight) were a popular creature, sadly though, that also meant the market was being flooded with vampire-related stories. In traditional publishing it can take up to 24 months from the sale of a story to seeing it in print. At that rate, even if I had sold the story, I might still have missed the hot market by the time it was published. That’s when I began looking into self-publishing. Doing it myself, I could get it to the market while it was still hot. That’s what gave me the inspiration to pursue self-publishing, and Rising Sign Books was born.


What would you say is the most important consideration for an author seeking to self-publish?

KS: If you’re going to self-publish, you need to take the time to do it right. One of the biggest reasons that self-publishing had a bad name to begin with is quality. Back before it became more mainstream, self-publishing was super expensive. Editing for example could cost thousands. Many authors couldn’t afford to do it right and self-publishing became synonymous with poor quality. It left a bad taste in many reader’s mouths. Today it is cheaper and much easier to do, but quality is still key. So if you’re interested in self-publishing, take your time, do your research, and put out the best quality product you can.

Give a brief run-down of the steps you take to develop, create and market your work.


KS: Brief is hard to do. That’s exactly why I wrote a book on the subject. Go Publish Yourself does exactly that. It begins with budgeting your book, taking into consideration things like: editing, layout, and book cover art, etc… Then, it runs through both print and ebook formatting tips. After that, you’ll look at pricing, copyright, and getting the book into book stores. Finally, it ends on marketing with topics such as: press kits, blog tours, giveaways, and book signings. There’s a whole wealth of information inside that I think will really help any self-publisher, both novices and even seasoned authors.


Realistically, what kind of investment in time and money (aside from the actual writing) should a self-published author anticipate?


KS: Rather than say, “it should take you 4 months” to self-publish, I’d say it really boils down to steps. Once your manuscript is finished (meaning you’ve written all the way to “the end.”) you’ll need to have it critiqued. This is not editing. This is where you give the book to a few readers to pick apart. Consider that a first pass. You should revise after this. Then, you’ll want to beta read the revisions. This is another pass by a different set of eyes. There is usually another round of revisions here too. After that, if you’re completely satisfied with all of the changes, you can move on to editing. Once edited then you’ll need to lay it out for your publishing formats. At this stage you’ll need to nail down your cover art, file your copyright, and assign your ISBN. Then when it’s all ready, you can put it all together and publish.


As far as money is concerned. You’ll want to budget for: Editing (variable pricing dependent on who you hire), Cover art (variable pricing dependent on who you hire), ISBN (purchase a pack of 10 for about $250), Copyright (file online for $35), Layout (you can do this yourself or hire out for $100-200), and if you’re going to have print copies, you’ll have some setup fees from your printer.


While it no longer has to cost thousands of dollars to print, the actual cost will vary from person to person depending on the options you chose and the freelancers you hire. Just be aware of your budget and do your homework when looking for freelancers to hire. To help get you started, you can look at this list of websites and freelance editors and artists.


http://www.risingsignbooks.net/2012/03/self-publishing-website-guide.html


What would you say is the most valuable marketing tool you've utilized? Is it important to give out free copies and keep your price point low?


Giving free copies away, if done right, is a wonderful way to draw readers to your new book. When I say, done right I mean with a purpose. Don’t just give away copies to everyone, you’ll never make any money on them that way. My favorite way to do this is to go on blog tour and offer various giveaways as part of each tour stop. I often give each tour host a free e-copy of my newest release. This way the blog hosts gets an incentive to host you. They can read the book at their leisure, and may also give a review on their book (Book reviews are a very important thing). I also like to offer an additional copy of the book to offer as a giveaway for their readers. Contests are great ways to excite readers and get more exposure for your book. Just remember, when marketing, have a purpose behind everything you do.

Do you recommend placing books in big bookstores like Barnes and Noble or independent booksellers?

That’s a tough one. Yes, we all want big bookstore exposure but it can be a little easier said than done. It’s actually a topic I cover in Go Publish Yourself, with a few calculations to show you what price points you would have to set your book at in order to make it cost effective. In short, I would say try to get yourself into indie book stores first before hitting the big chain stores.

Does your company have any plans to publish other authors? What are some of the services your company has to offer writers?


Rising Sign Books is working on creating a boilerplate Author contract and will look to take on new authors later this year. To be notified about upcoming Rising Sign Books news and request for submissions please sign up for our newsletter at http://www.risingsignbooks.net

As of right now we are not open to submissions but we do offer some a la carte services to assist authors in self-publishing their novels. Services such as: Manuscript critiquing at $0.0025 per word and

Katie, than you for joining me today and sharing your wealth of knowlege. 

You can also follow Katie at these links:
Facebook
http://twitter.com/#!/quixotickatie