Hello!

My name is Callie Lynn Wolfe.  For those of you who do not know me, I am the Senior Managing Edit of the Wild Rose Press’ Black Rose Line.  We handle the darker side of the garden.  Weres, Vamps, demons, incubus or any other dark fantasy creature you can conjure up. We are very excited about our latest call out and hope that we can induce you to submit.  Traditional holiday stories not excluded. See information below for more details.

You can also visit our website at www.thewildrosepress.com for more detailed guideline information regarding Black Rose or any other of our specific lines.

I am also proud to announce that TWRP has taken the Best Book Publisher with Preditors and Editors for the FOURTH year in a row!

Black Rose is now looking for stories relating to the Pagan holidays.

*Yule (similar to Christmas)

*Imbolc (candlemass)

*Ostara (Spring Equinox)

*Beltane (May Day)

*Litha - Midsummer (Summer Solstice)

*Lughnasadh (First Harvest)

*Mabon (Autumn Equinox)

*Samhain (End of the Celtic year)

Length requirement: 20-40K

Heat level: Spicy

Stories should involve characters that fit within the Black Rose guidelines.

For more information, please go to: www.thewildrosepress.com, click “About Us” then proceed to “Submissions” and Black Rose(left sidebar) guidelines.

Please submit this special call directly to Callie Lynn Wolfe, Senior Editor at callielynnwrp@aol.com

Place the words Pagan Holiday Call in the email subject line. Submissions will be considered and a response given between 14-21 days of receipt of manuscript. Submissions are open now!

Black Rose is always looking for fresh new stories covering a variety of paranormal subjects, and we are always interested in new paranormal romance authors. So if you've got that hot were, sexy vamp, to die for demon or any dark paranormal creature you can conjure up, we are looking for you! See our guidelines on The Wild Rose Press website!

PAGAN SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS

Pagan Wheel

Below is the Pagan Wheel. I have also included some links that discusses the meaning behind each celebration.

http://www.witchway.net/days/days.html

http://www.ecauldron.net/holidays.php

Thank you for stopping by.

Callie Lynn Wolfe

Senior Managing Editor

The Wild Rose Press, Black Rose Line

mailto:.callielynnwrp@aol.com

Today I am pleased to welcome mutlti-published author, Sandra Cox, who will tell us about the characters of her recent released romance novel,

MOON WATCHERS

We all know folks that work in a family business. In our area, two sisters got their degrees in art, couldn’t find a job and decided to open a quilt shop which has become very successful. Many farmers keep their farm in the family for generations. And of course, there are several successful musical groups composed of family members. I’m sure you could add people you know to the family business list.

Cousins Jolene Sayer and Zoe Tempest are also in the family business although theirs is a bit more unusual. Jolene Sayer of Moon Watchers is a werewolf hunter. Her cousin Zoe Tempest of Vampire Island hunts vampires. They are alike in heart, tenacity and toughness. Oh yes, and they both love Pop-Tarts. But there it ends.

While Zoe is one of the best in her field she is a firm believer in dressing for success. No way, would she consider going into a fight with a chipped nail or shoes that didn’t match her outfit. She’s blonde and blue-eyed while her cousin is dark-haired, full lipped and sultry.

And while Jolene could look like a fashion plate if she chose, there’s no way she’s got time or the inclination to waste on fashion and makeup. Worn jeans, a flannel shirt or an old sweater, work just fine for her. Her one weakness: boots. She loves boots—as long as they’re serviceable. But blood runs deeper than fashion.

These two women would fight to the death for each other. The following excerpt tells a bit more about these beautiful young hunters:

Excerpt:
(Zoe has just come to visit her cousin Jolene after hearing she may be in trouble. )

Zoe walked into the living room, the largest room in the cottage. Not that that’s saying much. She glanced around then danced to the window and looked out. “I like your cottage, Jo. Very homey.”
“It’s not exactly what you’re used to.”
“If you mean, it’s not old and moldering and setting on an eerie island. You’re right.”
“You got rid of the eerie piece of it when you cleared out the vamps.”
“True.
“Nice view.” I followed her gaze. The sun sparkled on the snow and weighed down tree limbs. A shiver ran through me as I remembered the Weres jumping at the window. Good thing I’d cleaned the drool off. It would definitely have spoiled the view.
Zoe wandered around the room. I tried to see it through her eyes: a clean but sparse room, its best feature the stone fireplace. A couple of ancient discolored paintings of the forest hung off center on the wall. A faded blue throw rug lay in front of a worn couch, another in front of the fireplace. Ah, home.
“Looks like we’ll be redecorating in our spare time.”
Great. I managed not to roll my eyes.
She stopped at the sofa. Little tufts of stuffing leaked at the seam, but the blue flowered cushions were clean. She eyed it cautiously then collapsed. The cushions sighed and settled around her.
“It’s really quite comfortable,” I defended.
“You bet. I love this place, Jo. It’s so,” she paused as if looking for the right word, “quaint,” she finished triumphantly. “It just needs some sprucing up.”
“So the bad-ass vamp hunter is going to spruce up my cottage?”
Zoe studied me as she slipped off her boots.
I squirmed.
“Not just your cottage, I think.” She tapped her chin with a perfectly manicured fingernail.
“No. No you’re not. We’ve been over this before. I’m not a girlie, girl. I’m a Were hunter. I don’t have time for that kind of nonsense.”
“Weres. Vamps. Whatever.” She shrugged. “It’s no excuse for not looking your best.”
If you didn’t know my cousin Zoe, you wouldn’t take her seriously. She looks more like a ball of fluff than the Kewpie Doll, but I’d seen the girl in action. She could kick some serious vamp ass. My Uncle Julian--okay distant uncle--spoke highly of her. Words of praise don’t exactly drip off his tongue, if you know what I mean. So when he says someone’s good, you can notch it up to the stellar level.
“God, I’ve missed you.” I’m not given to expressing my emotions. The words just slipped out.
“Missed you too, Cuz. Now tell me what’s going on.”

CONTEST:
To celebrate the release of Moon Watchers, I’ll be running a contest from Jan 15 and Feb 2. The winner will be announced Feb 5. To enter just leave a comment at www.downtownya.blogspot.com and mention Moon Watchers and fuzzy slippers.

What do you win?
1-An autographed copy of Moon Watchers
2-A Starbucks gift certificate
3-And a fun necklace that has a protective cross to safeguard against creatures of the night, a blood drop stone to remind shape-shifters you are protected and a star since our winner will be the star of the contest

Moon Watchers can be purchased in paper or e at: http://www.classactbooks.com/
Vampire Island can be purchased in paper or e at: http://www.classactbooks.com/Vampire-Island-by-Sandra-Cox_p_156.html
Vampire Island is also available on Amazon and other e sites.

About Sandra
Multi-published author Sandra Cox writes YA fantasy, historic and paranormal romance and metaphysical nonfiction.

Sandra lives with her husband, a menagerie of pets, and an occasional foster cat in sunny North Carolina. To see the brood click on the cat tab.

Her fifteenth book, MOON WATCHERS, a crossover romance will be released through www.classactbooks.com. Jan 15, 2011.

To visit her YA blog: downtownya.blogspot.com

Terry Spear is with us today, yep the one you see everywhere these days! She is such a busy writer I had to trip her and insist she blog for us. When she agreed so I'd let her up from the floor, I asked Terry to blog about anything she chose, so here she is. Please help me welcome Terry Spear.


Which Story Am I Working On???
By Terry Spear

Even though I’m supposed to be talking about Legend of the White Wolf’s release—it’s coming Feb 1, although pre-orders are being shipped already—my mind keeps flipping back and forth from werewolf story to werewolf story.

When writing a series, there are usually a myriad of stories in progress. As I finished Wolf Fever, Book 6, due out in the Fall, I had the edits for Seduced by the Wolf, Book 5, to complete and send back in. To write Wolf Fever, which is based on characters from Destiny of the Wolf, Book 2, I had to reread that book, and make sure I didn’t make any mistakes for the new book. Of course since then, I’d already also written To Tempt the Wolf, Book 3.


Now, I’m working today on the very opening of Taming the Highland Wolf, Book 7, due out in 2011. Yet, I’m also promoting Legend of the White Wolf, Book 4’s release. Confused yet?

I am!!! Shortly, I’ll have to send a pitch on what the hero and his wolf persona will look like for Taming the Highland Wolf’s book cover. Then I’ll be working on final line edits for Seduced by the Wolf. ☺ And I’ve got to keep all these names straight.

Anyone have trouble with names in real life?

Waving hand here. I’m the world’s worst. But when I write stories, I compound the issue. *sigh* I usually get the name sort of right, but I get creative on the spelling. ☺

I love creating both new characters and taking secondaries and giving them more of a role as the primary characters or just further roles in new stories also. In a way, it’s easier just creating new characters. But on the other hand, when you already have one partly fleshed out in a previous story, it can be fun showing their character in more depth, this time from their point of view, when before it wasn’t.

In Legend of the White Wolf, the characters are all new, except for Leidolf, who was in the first 4 stories. I wanted a story that starts out with a human hero and heroine who learn what the truth is about Arctic wolves living in Maine. But I also wanted to have a story about Arctic wolves, instead of just about gray and red. Each story will hopefully be something new and different and that’s what I ultimately strive for.

Half the fun of writing the stories is researching them. From werewolf legends to real werewolf trials, I try to add some realism to my own urban fantasy romance worlds. I have to say that I was researching what a hero’s brother might wear in Scotland on a summer day. I found a guy in a muscle shirt and he’s perfect for the job! I mean the shirt is. Okay, all right, so the guy really is too. You never know where inspiration will come from next!

So what do you think? Muscle shirts a must for a summer werewolf hunk in the Highlands?

http://terry-spear.blogspot.com/2010/01/taming-highland-wolf.html

I have to admit Cameron MacPherson starts out the story in Legend of the White Wolf, wearing only a towel when he first meets Faith O’Malley. ☺

Have a super Thursday!! And remember, werewolves need loving too!
Terry Spear

“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male.”
www.terryspear.com
http://www.wickedlyromantic.blogspot.com/
http://casablancaauthors.blogspot.com/
http://fierceromance.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/home.php?ref=home
http://shapeshifterromance.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/legend-of-the-white-wolf-being-shipped/#comment-4502

POSTED FOR MARY RICKSEN:


Nothing is scarier to me than to hear the words, "I'm coming for a visit." Oh yippee, I get to wait on people and not get paid.

How about, "I need to borrow money." If it's family kiss it goodbye.

Or better yet, "Can you watch the kids?" The words alone make me shudder.

When the doctor says, he doesn't have a clue what's wrong, but you need a colonoscopy!Awful huh?

Or it's time for your gynecological torture and breast squeezing procedure? Do you prefer your metal thingee warm? Who cares just grease the thing, please!

How about,"The tooth has to come out!" That'll be $4,000 for a fixed bridge to replace your lost tooth. Heavens.

A good one for me is, "Quick call 911, the car is on fire! I knew I should have changed that catalytic converter." Or, "I can fix the dishwasher no problem." The scream when he gets a shock can be very scary.

Gas is going up to what? Oh God help us the Republican's have to go! There's King Bush, he makes me quake. We have who to choose from? What I have to vote? At a polling place, in Florida, oh yeah why bother.

The shopping carts in Winn Dixie--Don't go without disinfectant handiwipes. Have you looked at the gross stuff on those carts, where you actually put your hands. What germs are harbored there? The only thing worse is all those plastic bags with one thing in each one.

Here's one for you, they are raising our water bills because people have been conserving water and they are not making enough money now. Huh?


New appliances are scary, that thing you brought will break in three months, if it ever works at all.

Or how about made in China, and we used to be worried about made in Japan. They are sending us food, toys and whatever else we buy from them, they're gonna kill us from inside. Even worse is the fact that we as a country import much more than we export. Do the math.

Submitting manuscripts, (put scream in here). Horrible! Waiting for an answer, even worse!

How about, your not home, yep, public restrooms, need I say more. Public swimming pools, people pee in them. They'll deny it, but they do.

I always liked Indiana Jones, but come on Harrison is too old for the part and his real life girlfriend too. I know they cover up the wrinkles but they are there, I'm sure of it.

School ending, what are all those delightful little devils going to do all summer, I mean the teenage ones, frightening to think about.Going to the movies by the way is also bad, especially if there is a bomb scare. $18 each and a bomb scare. Show the damn movie, I don't care.

Or when you go to K mart and get to watch a shoot out right in back of your car. They did get away with some awfully cool clothes. No one got killed but it still shakes you up.

Reruns of Malcolm in The Middle, need I say more. The only thing worse is reruns of Hogan's Hero's, I know nothing.

Phone orders with your credit card, this also applies to those stores who give you a little paper receipt with no business name on it.

Really old people at the Chinese Buffet, especially if they carry their purses up to the food and look around a lot.

The napkins you have to use at your parents home that they steal from fast food places. How long have they had them that they are brown?

Bills, they are frightening. Can you juggle the money to pay everyone?Having to drive to Miami airport to pick someone up. Have you been to the airport recently. Thinking about it puts one on red alert.

Tar on the beach. It's gross, I never thought aqua waters and white sand harbored waters had more than the occasional man-o-war. Bring your shout with you and wipe off the tar before you get in the car. Or your husband will scare you with his red face as he tries to get it out of the carpet. Anybody know what I mean?

So all I have to say is if Friday the 13th is scary to you, if black cats worry you when they cross your path. If those noises the house makes as it settle, start to get to you. Forget it. Frankenstein, pish, I have Lyrch living with me. I can't be sure but I think that no AC in your car in Florida is scarier than Godzilla, heck I liked those two oriental girls on Mothra. I wanted him to fly and get me too.No horror movies bother me, no ghosts or spirits worry me. No monsters, piranha infested waters, creatures, vampires, evil sorcerer or anything sinister holds me quaking.It's life itself, that's what scares me. You're on top one day and down on the bottom the next. That's where the real scary stuff comes in.

Doing things right can scare the heck out of you. But then I always knew the danger is not in the fear of things, but how you respond

Have you read any Jennifer Cruise? Sometimes I get into moods to read certain authors. Getting Rid of Stanley kept me laughing. Jenny's characters are real and flawed. Though the book was published in 1994, you'll love the dark and handsome cop with commitment issues and the heroine who has just signed her divorce papers. What happens when you try to fix a bad dye job, you know, from bleached blond to brown? That's just a small problem compared bullets flying and explosions.



Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer have teamed up to write romantic suspense. Bob likes high body counts and Jenny loves the man/woman relationships. In Agnes and the Hit Man, a hit man tries to protect a chef with anger issues. Both add to the body count. This is their second book together. Don't Look Down was their first.

Now I'm finishing a Rebecca York werewolf book, NEW MOON. Other books in the werewolf series include SHADOW OF THE MOON, CRIMSON MOON, WITCHING MOON, EDGE OF THE MOON, AND KILLING MOON. Those Marshall men can almost make me believe a woman can love a man who chases his food and eats it fresh and raw! These brothers and cousins shape shift and become wolves and marry women with powers and talents of their own. Page turning books!