Exciting News!

I'm pleased to announce that my erotic romance, The Righteous and The Wicked will be released from The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House on MAY 15th 2014. Seems like a long time from now, but it will be here before you know it! I'd like to thank you all for your continued support, it means the world to me.

Ah, Illumination...

This morning, I took a personality test. It was something that I just happened to come across online. Its based on the writings of Carl Jung  who was an absolutely fascinating man. (I recommend researching him if you're not familiar with his work.)

I took the 80 something question test without thinking much of it, that was, until I got my results.

I am an INTJ personality .
This stands for  Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging. I learned that it's extremely rare for a woman to have this personality type, only 0.8% of the female population in the US falls into this category.

And this is when I had my illuminating moment.

I have always felt that I'm not like other girls, and guess what? I'M NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS.

After exploring the INTJ type description, I felt like a great deal of mysteries about myself had been answered. I prefer to be alone. I'm both an idealist and a cynic. I'm a bookworm. I'm constantly strategizing and looking for ways to do things better. I'm honest and this often comes across as insensitive.

I cant help it. Its my personality.

I then began thinking about characters I've written. There are a million tools to help you perfect your character development and I've finally found mine.

Sixteen Personalities gives intense and layered information about why certain people do the things they do in a variety of settings (work, dating, parenthood, academic goals, etc.).

If you are an author, take the quiz from the perspective of your hero/heroine. I'm willing to bet it will only improve your writing.

"Out of The Dark" March Teaser

I don't want this to be the end either, but the sad truth that it may be begins to drive me to the brink of madness. This could be the last time we make love. I rock my hips into him, enticing him, and he responds. He moves, and I hear his breath quicken. I grip onto his shoulders and kiss him with unbridled fervor. It’s shocking how easy this is. The way we fit together is flawless.

"I wish that you waited," he says, hot in my ear.

"What?" I grip on to him, his hips still rocking as he speaks.

"I wish that you had waited until I found you, Cari."

He thrusts inside me deeply when he says this, like he's trying to claim me, to erase the touch of any other man, and I let him. I let him try to wash away the promises I’ve made, the vows that I’ve spoken to another. I let him consume me. I want to be consumed. The unspeakable words are on my lips again, but I don't say them.

"We have this, right now. Enzo, I'm yours right now." It's all that I can offer him, and I want it to be enough, but it's not.

He sets me down and turns me around. The damp mist has lifted from the bathroom mirror, and I can see myself. I can see him behind me. He gathers my hair in his fist, and his need, his passion, rises like fire in his eyes. He enters me again, and it's rough. My body presses up against the sink again and again as he makes me his. As his eyes close, as the sweat drips from our bodies. His hands slide over my breasts, as my knuckles turn white from the force with which I am gripping the sink. We are wretched. We are liars. We are evil. We are the same, and it is perfect.

He kisses my shoulder and reaches around to touch me between my legs. I focus on the feel of his fingers sliding over me, teasing me. I bloom and rise and fall for him, crying out in my ecstasy, getting dizzy from the pleasure. Unspeakable words crest and retreat, but do not cross my lips.

Blizzard

I'm here, home, holed up, watching the snow fall from Blizzard Nemo. There's something extra soothing and cozy about being home with your family with a glass of wine while snow falls outside. I always feel so thankful at times like this.

I'm also thankful that I've finished the first revision of my manuscript for Out of the Dark. I will now begin the second, because I'm a glutton for punishment! It's going well, and once I feel that it's ready to go out to editors and pre-readers, I will begin to submit it for publication.

I'm also taking a course through Romance Writer's of America right now, and I'm totally enjoying it. I hope that if you're a Northeasterner like me, you are somewhere safe and warm!

Casualties

I recently read a quote. I have no idea who the author  is, but it has inspired me to reflect, and that reflection has inspired me to write.
l'll  share it with you:

"There comes a time in life when you walk away from all the drama and the people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right. Think good thoughts for those who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy."

Lately, and perhaps unfortunately, I've had to keep these words in the front of my mind so as not to mourn for the casualties that inevitably arise as I grow and change as a person. I've learned that not everyone you care about feels the same way that you do. And your growth may be a source of resentment for them. No matter how much you wish it could  be different, some people just fade from your  life.

You may recall a short story I wrote called "Broken Glass Slipper". Recent events have inspired me to finish that story. So, now I have three pots on the stove, as they say. Wish me luck.
And if you know who wrote that quote, let me know in the comments.

xoxoxox

"Out of the Dark" February Teaser

I feel like there is someone that I’m supposed to be, something that I’m supposed to remember, but I've forgotten.

I can't remember.

Looking into his eyes, I don't care to try. After our hearts stop pounding, he lets me go. My focus on reality returns in slow increments. His arms leave my back and he puts one across my shoulders, guiding me back to the bar. Customers return to laughing among themselves. My wine glass is sitting there, half-empty next to Frank's elbow. The glass is my guide. I walk toward it. 

Enzo says something. Something sweet like, "Thanks for the dance" or "That was fun," but I'm not sure of his exact words. I feel myself nodding as I climb onto the bar stool and grip the stem of my glass. It's like a paper weight tethering me down, keeping my head from floating off, from spinning away further. I feel like I've done something wrong, like when you're a little kid and you and get caught in a lie. I'm reminded of the first time I smoked a cigarette when I was twelve. It may have been innocent, but it felt wrong. It was something that I shouldn't have done.

Out of the Dark January Teaser

Each month, I will give you a little snippet of the erotic novel I am currently working on: "Out of The Dark". Enjoy!

I await further instructions and am not disappointed. This time his voice is even closer, and I can feel his hand on my hip. "Open again," he says.

I part my lips, and the small grape is placed inside. I let it roll around my tongue before puncturing it and the sweet, tart flavor overwhelms my taste-buds. It is heavenly.

As I chew and swallow the fruit, I am keenly aware of his hand on my body, and, though my eyes are closed, I can feel his all over me. His grip on my hip gets firmer, then his hand slides up my back into my hair. "Open your eyes," he tells me. As soon as I do, he tugs my head back, and his lips are on mine. The sweet flavor of the grape is shared between us. His lips are slow, and then they move faster. Our tongues touch, and now I taste only him. I slide my arms around him, pulling him into me. I want him to know that I want this. I want him.

My neck sways to the side as he forces my mouth open further, and he lets out a moan. It's a guttural sound filled with desire. His hand slides down my back and over the curve of my ass...

He stops.

"Please..." I begin to beg him, but he shakes his head.

"Carina, I am finding it very difficult to remain a gentleman around you..."

I raise my eyebrow. "So, don't."