Writer Wednesday

One of the more draining aspects of writing, to me, isn’t the actual writing of books. It’s all the other things that come with it.

When I finished my final read-through of THE OUTLAW last week my feeling of accomplishment was very short lived. The real work had just begun. I had a virtual book tour to finalize, creating blog posts to go with each stop, and get the book formatted into its various forms – which is five different formats, for anyone counting.

I managed to get four of my five formats created and only ‘messed up’ once while creating the mobi file…which was a bit distressing as it took me nearly 2 hours to make it the first time. My Hubby listened to me complain and rant about stupid mistakes and nodded his head in sympathy. Bless him! lol

The blog tour is my first such venture into online promotion and I started small. Good thing too as I’m only four days away from the first post going live and I’ve yet to complete all the required posts. I’ve sent 2 on their way with another 3 chasing at my heels, one of which is a very lengthy, but fun, interview and a character interview with my cowboy hero, Colton Avery. I’ll be up late every night until they’re all complete and luckily the Hubby is off work for a few days and can find his own food…and maybe fix up a plate for me as well. *wink*

The blog tour schedule is posted below and I’ll be hosting a few giveaways at some of those stops, so be sure to bookmark those blogs and get in on all the fun!

March 12th: Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and More >> Introduction to Series and Giveaway

March 14th: Candy Nicks/Alexandra Marell Blog >> Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway

March 16th: Tea and Books >> Interview/All Day Q&A and Giveaway

March 16th: Riverina Romantics >> Writing The Outlaw and Excerpt

March 20th: Satin’s Bookish Corner >> Character Interview with Colton Avery and Giveaway

The Outlaw is already available on Amazon.Com for you kindle owners. It should be up on B&N in a few days and the ‘official’ release date is this coming Monday, where it will be available at most online retailers.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Six Sentence Sunday :: The Outlaw – Historical Western Romance book

This week’s 6, again, comes from my upcoming Historical Western Romance, THE OUTLAW which is due for release on March 12th!

“Just so you know, when we get to the next town, I’m turning you in. Are there any bounties on your head?”

Colt chuckled. “Probably.”

“Good. After all the torment this ordeal has caused me, I deserve some sort of compensation.”

To be notified when this book is released, sign up for the Lily Graison Newsletter by filling in the form below!

Check out the other Six Sentence Sunday participants or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on Twitter.

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Friday 56 :: The Lawman

Okay…I’m cheating this week, as its very late and grabbing a book ‘not’ my own would require walking upstairs and that’s just too much trouble at the moment!

My 56 this week is from The Lawman, book 1 in my historical western series.

Once inside the house, Morgan wasn’t sure what to do. Well, he knew what he wanted to do. Flip up Abigail’s skirts and take her right there on the parlor room floor. He wasn’t sure she’d appreciate it, though.

He shut the door, looked out the front window for something to do and waited to see what she had in mind. When she said his name, he turned to look at her.

The small flowers woven through her hair were wilting, the petals coming loose to lie in a crumbling wave of confetti in her hair. A few blonde curls had escaped the pins and dangled near her face. She looked softer, somehow, in the dim lit room. The lacy dress she wore was a pale blue, buttoned to the neck. She looked as innocent as a virgin. And she was all his. ‘Til the day he died.

About the Friday 56

  • Grab the book nearest you. Right now
  • Turn to page 56.
  • Find the fifth sentence.
  • Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
  • Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
  • Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Now its your turn! Grab a book and post your 56. If you don’t have a blog, just post yours in the comments.

(I saw the Friday 56 over at Shiloh Walker’s blog. Be sure to visit and read her 56.)

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Thursday 13 :: Juicy Excerpts

13 Juicy Excerpts From My Books
(click book titles to read an long excerpt from the book!)



1. A Touch of Heaven – Contemporary Romance

“Sorry ladies, but this is one time you’re not going to get anything.”

“You’ll spill or I swear I’ll find the most hideous creature at the Reunion and tell him you were madly in love with him all through school!”

“Go ahead.” Paige laughed. “There isn’t anything you could do to get me to tell. It was private.”

“Private!” Kim yelled, “You just fucked a man in a public restroom! There’s nothing private about that.”


2. Destined Hearts – Contemporary Romance

“What are you smiling about?”

Caitlyn turned her head to look over her shoulder at him. “Nothing.”

“It has to be something,” William said. “It’s been on your face since you stopped screaming my name.”

Her smile widened. “Well, if I’m not mistaken, you enjoyed me screaming your name.”

“Oh, I enjoyed it a lot,” he laughed. “It’s my life’s mission to elicit that sound from you on a regular basis now.”


“I’m going to kiss you, Meredith,” his voice was deep, roughened by barely constrained lust. “If you don’t want me to, say so now.”
She did more than that. She grabbed the back of his head, forcing him close to her waiting lips. The first touch sent shocks of pleasure rippling down his spine.


“Let’s get up and go to breakfast before mom comes back.”
“Not until you tell me why you’re blushing.”
She laughed and held the sheet tighter. “You’re naked, Sean.”
He looked down at himself, noticing not an inch of the sheet covered him. He was bare ass naked, sprawled across the bed in all his glory. Had Rose seen him like that as well? He laughed before leaning toward her and tugging on the sheet. “Think your mom will be blushing when I look at her as well?”
Macy laughed, her shoulders heaving. “Oh god! I can’t believe this is happening. My pretend boyfriend just flashed his goods to my fifty-eight year old mother.”


“Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a naked woman?”
Holly shook her head, unable to speak.
“Over a year. Over a year since anyone has touched me. I want you, Holly. I want to feel you underneath me and taste you when you come.”
“Oh god.”


6. Wicked: Leather and Lace – Contemporary Romance

“Luke! We’re in the back of a limo.”

“So,” he said, pulling the material forcefully. “No one can see us and Bobby is paid to drive. He’ll do so until I tell him otherwise.”

Before Roxy could protest further, her panties were tossed to the floor, her skirt pushed up over her hips, and Luke had her bottom pulled to the edge of the seat.

Her first thought was, what would Holly say? Thoughts of her friend didn’t last long, though. Not when Luke suddenly spread her legs wide, bent at the waist, and dropped his head to the heat between her legs.


7. Wicked: Jade Butterfly – Contemporary Romance

“They’re just words, Christian,” she said. “Read me the card. I promise not to bite.”

Something in her eyes told him she wanted him to read the card. She was watching him too intently. Eager anticipation shined in her eyes and he knew in that moment, he’d do anything the girl wanted no matter what the outcome.

Swallowing the nerves choking him, he glanced at the card and lifted his gaze to her face. “Fuck me if I’m wrong, but don’t you want to kiss me?”


8. Wicked: Sweet Temptation – Contemporary Romance

“Put me down and stop calling me Tinker Bell. I told you it was degrading.”

“No its not. It suits you perfectly. You’re small enough to fit into my pocket but at the moment, I’d rather you be down the front of my pants.”

She glanced down and raised one eyebrow at him. “You aren’t wearing any pants.”

“Then you’ll have no problem filling that pretty mouth of yours with my dick.”


9. The Calling – Paranormal Romance

“Is it because it’s been so long or was sex always that good before?”

He chuckled and wrapped his arms tighter around her. “It was always that good for me.” He kissed her cheek again, his lips brushing the side of her face before he paused. “Wait? Wasn’t it always that good for you?”

She leaned up and smiled at him. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s been way too long for me to remember correctly. I may need more of a comparison. I can’t base all sex on one act.”

“The night is young,” he said, “And lucky for you, I have the stamina of five men.”

“Just five?” She squealed when he flipped her onto her back, his hips fitting between her parted thighs.


10.The Gathering – Paranormal Romance

He entered the room like walking death. Splatters of blood were painted across his cheek; the front of his shirt soaked in crimson and the look on his face was one Rayna would never forget. This was the creature she had feared.

His eyes were wolf amber, his facial features slightly distorted, and she knew he was struggling to hold the beast back. His gaze bore into her as his long stride ate at the distance between them. When her legs stopped shaking, she ran to him.

11. The Lawman – Historical Western Romance

“Do you mind?” she asked. “This is my room after all. You don’t see me barging into your room seeing you in your drawers, now do you?”

He grinned and leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. “Well, for starters, I wouldn’t object to you doing so, although I’m known to not wear my drawers more often than I do, so I can’t promise what you’d see. As for minding seeing you like that? Not at all. Continue to undress if you wish.”

12. The Outlaw – Historical Western Romance – available March 12th!

“Why did you kiss me?”

He gave her a sudden, lazy smile. “So I’d stop thinking about doing it.” He reached for her, wrapping his hands around her waist and lifted her to the horse. He put her in the saddle this time and climbed in behind her. She wiggled her bottom to give him more room and gasped when his arm clamped around her waist and he pulled her back into his chest, his head lowering until his breath was warm against her ear. “And if you don’t stop wiggling that ass around on me I’m going to do everything else I can’t stop thinking about, too.”

13. The Gambler – Historical Western Romance – Coming Soon!

“Will you be staying the night?” He lifted his head, his eyes a bit too bright. “Or will you just come back tomorrow to get me?”

He looked toward the door and she thought then he’d be leaving but when he faced her and smiled, her pulse leaped.

“Not sure leaving would be a good idea.” He glanced at her breasts again. “Hard to say how much it’ll snow. Be easier to just leave from here.”

Emmaline nodded. He was interested, bony thing that she was. Just proved her theory. All men thought with their cock and a naked woman, or half naked, in her case, was all it took to grab their attention.

She sat the carpetbag on the floor and reached for the ties holding her shift together and pulled the ribbon, the material parting. The shift fell from her shoulders and when it pooled at her feet, Tristan’s eyes widened. “Do you prefer to be on top or bottom?”

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Writer Wednesday

I’ve finally made it to the end! I’m doing the final read-through on THE OUTLAW and the muse is so tickled he’s been filling my head of scenes for the next book, which I left hanging half-way through.

Editing has never been fun for me, mainly because I’m so anal about it. I’m terrified of mistakes, of pesky typos and other oddities that it literally takes me weeks to accomplish the task.

Every time one of the test readers mention something, I go back and re-read that part, fixing, tweaking and driving myself insane trying to make it perfect and each time I do, I get this sickening feeling I’ve introduced ‘new’ typos.

The process is so endless for me that when I do send the books out, I don’t rest easy until the first reviews are out. That’s when I read with one eye open, waiting for someone to  mention the glaring typos and all together crap I didn’t catch.

Aside from my fear of typos, I’m extremely proud of this book. It’s everything I wanted it to be when I first envisioned it and I hope all you readers love it as much as I do! We only have 12 days until RELEASE and the ARC’s go out this week which means, it’s time to get excited… and nervous! After talking about this book for months on end, I’m eager to see what you all think. It won’t be long now!

I’ll be back to writing very soon so look for updates on THE GAMBLER in the very near future.

Until next time,
Lily

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Tuesday Tales :: Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughn

Welcome to Tuesday Tales, where I recommend my favorites books!

I’ve been a fan of fantasy romance for some time and although finding those books that really stick with you is rare, when you do find them, they always leave a lasting impression. Today’s rec is one of those.


Author: Elizabeth Vaughn
Title: Warprize (Warlands #1)

Blurb:

The daughter of a Warrior King, Lara was trained as a healer, helping both friend and foe. And when the enemy warlord agrees to cease hostilities in exchange for Lara, she agrees to become the Warprize.

Buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/Warprize-Chronicles-Warlands-Book-1/dp/0425240541/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330415964&sr=8-1

Warprize is book 1 in this trilogy featuring Lara and her Warlord hero, Keir – (who is one of the yummiest heroes I’ve ever read! LOVED him!) Given to the Warlord in exchange to end the fierce battle against their lands, Lara’s brother (the new king) gives the Warlord her hand…but hatred for his sister twists his words and Lara thinks she’s a slave, given in exchange for peace.


The cultural differences between Lara and the warlords people is great but Lara learns their language in small increments. Trained as a healer, she’s of great value to the warlords people but their customs are very different from her own. She has to adapt to their way of thinking and doing things and as hard as she tries, she missteps every other time she tries.


I loved the characters in this book and there are many. The secondary characters are just as bright and interesting as the main characters are and the detail in the world-building is phenomenal. The way the Warlord’s people are described, I pictured native american Indians as they were a tent living people who roamed the open plains, living where the land was most fertile.


My only complaint about the book is the first person narrative, from Lara’s point of view. Call me greedy but I enjoy getting inside the heroes head and I wasn’t able to in this case but that doesn’t mean the book suffers for it. It doesn’t. You still get a very good sense of who Keir is through Lara’s eyes.


The first book is followed by Warsworn, as they travel from Lara’s homeland to Keir’s and the trials encountered on their journey. The last book, Warlord, takes place in Keir’s country and the Warprize (Lara) is presented before the elders of his people.


If you enjoy fantasy romance without the mystical creatures and foreign landscapes, you’ll love this. You can read excerpts of each book on Ms. Vaughn’s website.


Excerpts For Warprize, Warsworn and Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughn.






All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Friday 56 :: Nevada Captive by Catherine Creel

This weeks 56 comes from the book Nevada Captive by Catherine Creel published in 1989. Can you tell I have a thing for the older books? hehe

There was no power on earth that could make her admit how deeply affected she was by the feel of his muscular body pressing down upon the assuredly feminine softness of hers.

“You can get up now,” she proclaimed in a frigid tone.

About the Friday 56

  • Grab the book nearest you. Right now
  • Turn to page 56.
  • Find the fifth sentence.
  • Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
  • Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
  • Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Now its you turn! Grab a book and post your 56. If you don’t have a blog, just post yours in the comments.

(I saw the Friday 56 over at Shiloh Walker’s blog. Be sure to visit and read her 56.)

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison

Thursday 13 :: Stupid Laws

13 Stupid Laws – in North Carolina
(and to my knowledge they are STILL on the books!)
  1. It’s against the law to sing off key.
  2. While having sex, you must stay in the missionary position and have the shades pulled.
  3. Organizations may not hold their meetings while the members present are in costume.
  4. Serving alcohol at a bingo game is not allowed.
  5. Women must have their bodies covered by at least 16 yards of cloth at all times. (Charlotte)
  6. It is required that you must pay a property tax on your dog. (Rocky Mount)
  7. Elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields.
  8. Fights between cats and dogs are prohibited. (Barber)
  9. It is illegal to drive cars through city cemeteries for pleasure. (Dunn)
  10. A marriage can be declared void if either of the two persons is physically impotent.
  11. No one may be a professional fortune-teller, and if one wishes to pursue the practice as an amateur, it must be practiced in a school or church.
  12. You must stop and call City Hall before entering town in an automobile. (Forest City)
  13. You may not ride a bicycle without having both your hands on the handle bars. (Kill Devil Hills)
The laws in the rest of the country are just as bizare. This one in particular from South Carolina: It is perfectly legal to beat your wife on the court house steps on Sundays. I’d like to see a man try that one NOW. LOL

All material &copy2005-2012 to Lily Graison