Archive for September, 2007

Midnight Melody by Ava Rose Johnson

An Erotic Ghost Story

Available now from Twilight Fantasies

Five years after her husband’s tragic death, Lizzie Jenkins’ life has come to a standstill. Spending her days like the living dead, she struggles through, the darkness dragging her down. But when the music begins, arousing her from troubled sleep, long-gone emotions are awakened.

The green-eyed piano player hypnotizes her with his soft melodies, eliciting a desire within her that she has never experienced and soon she falls into a passionate affair. It doesn’t matter that this man is from another time, his power over her is too strong. She’s addicted. But how long can a relationship with a ghost last?

Surely, it must end… right?

Read an excerpt online here.

You can buy Midnight Melody here.

Vist Ava’s website here.

Step into a world of glamour and fame where American youths are still raw from the war, music takes an edgier turn, and movie stars are practically royalty.

Charles Witmore is used to celebrities. As owner of the grand Winmont Hotel in Los Angeles, he has seen them come and go more times than he can count. But the experience is altogether different when silver screen starlet Bridget Phillips walks into his life and crashes into his heart. He’s absolutely starstruck. Her beauty is exactly as majestic as has been rumored, but he wonders about the many claims laid against the woman, who seems to be so shrouded in mystery.

Initially claimed by prejudice, he sees nothing more than the ice princess she presents, beautiful and stone cold. But, the more time she spends at his hotel, the more he begins to see there is more to her facade than meets the eye. Soon, she becomes the object of his affection, and in an amusing ploy, his two best friends, Betty and Eleanor, and his cute assistant Tessa, set up the matchmaking scheme of a lifetime.

But will Bridget’s dark secret keep Charles from his happily ever after?

Coming Tuesday, September 25th 2007 from Freya’s Bower!

If so, the Launching A Star contest is in need of more entries in those categories. Take advantage of this opportunity! Entries must be POSTMARKED by Oct. 1st.

Final Judges (Editor and Agent)

Paranormal: Heather Osborne, TOR and Laurie McLean, Larsen-Pomada Agency

YA: Kate Seaver of Berkley and Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency

Erotic: Angela James, Samhain and Roberta Brown, Brown Literary Agency

Stephanie Tyler offered these words of wisdom to those of us Sweating with Sven.

She also challenged (sorta) us to come up with a writing quote of our own.

 So here’s mine:

When I write I get drawn into the story and lost in the world I’ve created. It’s not a perfect world but one I control the outcome and let my imagination fly free. Writing is pure joy and my lifeline. When I writing I think of the story, what I want to say and this mantra – No matter what just keep writing, if it’s one word, one sentence or one page it better than not writing. No matter how prolific or famous some writers may be, the one thing they all, we all have in common is this – Write, Submit, Repeat.

So am I going to meet my goal with Sven – No. But I have wrote more, hopefully better than I have before. It was and is very invigorating and thrilling.  

Here’s an old recipe/method I found on an old email for an old website I had about my soaps, lotions and gels and stuff. This is what I use if I don’t do melt and pour method. But they’ve done so much with m&p (usually I use the avocado cucumber or olive oil base) and it’s quicker and easier if I don’t have the time to do this.

6 1/2 or 7 quart Crock Pot (fits about a 4 pound batch of soaps about halfway to allow enough room)

A favorite Recipe I use that I found online – Rosemary Mint Soap

- 38 ounces olive oil (59.38%)
- 14.4 ounces palm kernel oil (22.5%)
- 11.6 ounces palm oil (18.13%)
- 8.7 ounces sodium hydroxide (5% discount)
- 17.5 ounces distilled water
- 3 ounces rosemary mint blend essential oils
- 2 teabags of Organic Peppermint tea

Measure water and set aside
Lye mixture – measure lye in a seperate container – pour lye into pitcher of cold water and stir until dissoved – set aside in safe place.

measure solid oils – either melt first in microwave or put directly in crockpot

crock pot on low

meaure olive oil or any other liquid oils using and pour into crock pot

the tricky part -

with stick blender on low, slowly pour lye mixture into melted oils, blend well with stick blender. Use stainless steel wire wisk if don’t have stick blender (which I don’t) just have to give it more arm and elbow power.

Once it has reached “trace” – put lid on CP and turn heat to high.

Ready mold, measure fragrance oils, essential oils, additives plan on using

after about 15 to 20 mintues – remove lid, use potato masher and mash up soap. It’ll have a look of vaseline texture – glossy and slick, may feel waxy if rub between gloved fingers.

Add your additives, colorants, herbs, etc and mix well using the potato masher. Once that is blended fairly well, add your fragrance and mix again.

It’s done now just have to mold it. let it sit overnight. unmold and slice bars to air out about a week or so.